Germans die in Russia bus crashes

The crash in Siberia destroyed the passenger bus

At least 10 people, including five German tourists, have been killed and more than 20 wounded when their bus collided with a lorry in Russia.

The lorry is believed to have crossed into the path of the bus as it travelled at around dawn on a motorway in the Kurgan region of Siberia.

The Germans were on their way to visit relatives among Siberia's ethnic German population, officials said.

Separately, a German tourist was killed in a tour bus crash in St Petersburg.

The bus was bringing German tourists from Dusseldorf when it also collided with a lorry. At least 21 people were injured, some seriously.

In the Siberia crash, the bus carrying 39 people hit a Volvo in thick fog as it travelled between the cities of Chelybinsk and Kurgan at around 0500 local time (0200 GMT).

"What we think happened is that the driver of the Volvo had fallen asleep and went to the wrong side of the road," said Vladimir Perlukain, of Kurgan regional police.

At least three of the dead were children, officials said.

Some 28 Germans on board the bus were on their way to stay with relatives in the city of Omsk.