Five young people were killed and 14 others were injured when their bus crashed in a mountainous area of Oman.
The bus was carrying 19 passengers from youth homes and a childcare centre run by the Ministry of Social Development.
Reports said those on board were orphans.
The bus appeared to have left the road and rolled down a crevice in north-eastern Al Hamra province.
Residents helped police and rescuers by carrying injured passengers on stretchers.
Police, civil defence and paramedics were at the scene.
“The bus belonged to the Child Welfare Centre in the Seeb province,” Capt Muneer Al Sinan of Royal Oman Police told local media.
Two passengers with severe injuries were flown to Khawlah hospital in Muscat, while the other passengers were taken to Nizwa and Bahla hospitals.
On Twitter, the ministry said it was investigating what caused the crash.
“It is with great sadness that the ministry received news of the traffic accident that occurred in the eastern mountain in Al Hamra province,” it said.
“The ministry is closely following up on the details of the accident with relevant authorities and is hoping God would have mercy on the deceased and grant the injured a speedy recovery.”
Local reports said those killed in the crash were orphans all under the age of 15.
Earlier this month, at least 19 people died when heavy downpours led to flash flooding in Oman.
Among the dead were a father and his two children, who lived in Dubai and were taking the Eid holidays in the sultanate.
Search for Oman flood victims: in pictures
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Omani rescue teams search for bodies after a family of three were washed from a rocky beach into the sea on Sunday, July 10. The bodies were later found. Photo: Oman News Agency -
In total, 19 people died in Oman during severe flooding over the Eid Al Adha holidays. Here, Royal Oman Police look for the victims at Mughsayl Beach in the Dhofar region. Photo: Oman News Agency -
More severe weather is forecast as a storm from Pakistan moves toward the Gulf. Photo: @RoyalOmanPolice via Twitter -
Summer storms in the Arabian Sea are not uncommon, with Oman typically bearing the brunt of the weather front. Photo: @RoyalOmanPolice via Twitter -
They went missing in bad weather. Photo: Oman News Agency -
There has been incessant rain in Oman over the past few days. Photo: @RoyalOmanPolice via Twitter -
Omani citizens have been told to avoid coastal areas. Photo: @RoyalOmanPolice via Twitter
