At ​least seven passengers ‌were killed when a ​bus ⁠caught fire in southern Vietnam early ‌on Tuesday, police said.

The ‌bus was ‌traveling ⁠from Lam ⁠Dong province to the nearby business hub ​Ho ‌Chi Minh City when it caught fire, ‌with flames quickly ​engulfing the 24-seat vehicle ⁠and passengers inside trapped, the police-led ‌Ministry of Public Security said in a statement.

Police have launched an ‌investigation into ​the cause of the fire. State ⁠media reports said ⁠five other passengers ‌were injured.