Mexico City, Nov 7 (DPA) At least 21 people died in a bus accident in western Mexico when a fuel truck drifted into the lane of the oncoming bus, officials in Sinaloa province confirmed Saturday.

The accident happened Friday evening near the town of Palmillas in the south of Sinaloa. The fuel truck carried 20,000 litres of diesel fuel.

Ifan Leon Escobedo of the civil rescue team said the driver of the truck fled after the crash. The number of victims could climb, since it was unknown how many people were in the bus.