Four people died and more than 20 were injured after the minibus that was transporting them overturned in a dangerous curve on the national road DN1, between Brasov mountain resort and Fagaras.

The minibus, which was carrying children from Iasi, in eastern Romania, to a folk music festival in Arad, some 700 kilometers away, seems to have been overloaded. The vehicle had 25 seats but there were more than 30 people inside, most of them children.

According to a statement of Iasi County School Inspectorate cited by local Digi24, there were 34 children in the minibus, and two teachers. The Ministry of Health announced that there were 31 people in the minibus.

Dozens of ambulances arrived at the scene and took the victims to hospitals, most of them in Brasov.

A witness said that the accident could have happened due to a technical malfunction, as smoke was going out of the minibus’ wheels before the incident.

DN1 Brasov-Fagaras was closed after the accident, between Persani and Vladeni (km 205).

Five dead, many more injured in road accident near Ploiesti in Romania

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com