ANKARA, Sept. 7 (Xinhuanet) -- Thirteen people were killed and 25 others injured when a passenger bus was de-routed and caught fire in northwestern Turkey, the private TGRT channel reported Wednesday.

    The accident occurred Tuesday evening on the TEM Sakarya-Duzce highway when the bus heading toward Istanbul from Giresun was de-routed and caught fire due to its flat tires, the channel said.

    A total of 13 people lost their lives and 25 others were injured because the back door of the bus could not be opened after the fire erupted, it added.

    Fire-brigade teams immediately rushed to the spot to extinguish the fire, said the report, adding that the injured had been taken to the local hospital for treatment.

    The cause of the accident is under investigation. Enditem