Japan mountain bus crash kills 14 and injures 27

At least 14 people have been killed and dozens injured in Japan when an overnight bus taking them to a ski resort slid down a mountainside, officials said.

The bus, with 41 people on board, was going from Tokyo to a resort in Nagano prefecture in central Japan.
It veered off the road near the town of Karuizawa early on Friday.

It is not immediately clear what caused the crash as there was no snow or ice on the road.

Japan's transport ministry said it is investigating the incident.

Twenty-seven people were injured when the bus strayed onto the wrong side of the road and smashed through a guardrail, sliding several metres down the mountainside.

There were two bus drivers on board, taking turns to drive, according to AP news agency.
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Skiing and other winter sports are popular in Japan, which has extensive mountain ranges accessible from many of the country's biggest cities. Many people heading to the mountains use a bus for at least part of their journey.