Kazakhstan bus fire
Representational ImageHECTOR RETAMAL/AFP/Getty Images

About 52 people were killed when a passenger bus in the west of Kazakhstan caught fire. Two of the people who lost their lives were the bus drivers.

The incident took place at 10.30 am local time in the Irgiz district of Aktobe region, reported BBC. Five people managed to escape and they were treated on the spot. Rescue operations are on.

It has been reported that the bus was ferrying Uzbek passengers to or from Russia.

Aktobe regional emergency situations department spokesman Aktilek Kenes said: "According to preliminary information, there were 57 people - all Uzbek citizens - on the bus and of them 52 passengers have died, while five managed to get out on their own," reported Express UK

The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. 

This is a developing story