At least nine people were killed and 47 injured in a road accident in Russia involving a bus carrying passengers from Moscow to Yerevan.

According to Russian media, the accident took place overnight at the 220th kilometer of M4 Don Highway in the Tula region not far from the village of Ilyinka.

Preliminary data suggest the Hyundai bus driver lost control of the vehicle, which veered off the road and overturned.

Some reports said the driver may have fallen asleep, or some technical failure caused the crash.

The man survived the crash, but according to authorities, is in a shock and can’t testify yet.

All of the injured have been evacuated to nearby regional hospitals, while the rest of the passengers have been sheltered in a local cinema.

The bus designed for 65 passengers reportedly carried 63 passengers at the moment of the accident.

All the dead and injured passengers are citizens of Armenia, a source in the emergency services of the region told RIA Novosti.