Horror in Nicaragua. Six people, including an eight-year-old girl and her mother and an 84-year-old man, have died after being stung by African killer bees in the Latin American country.

The driver experienced mechanical problems and lost control of the school bus in the municipality of San Sebastián de Yalí on Monday.

The six victims were among the 60 passengers traveling in a bus fell down a 49m high slope where there were wooden hives, and allowed a swarm of African bees to escape from the hives where they were producing honey.

At least 45 of the 60 passengers and the driver were stung. A four-year-old boy and a pregnant woman were among the 14 people taken to hospital.

The killer bees attacked 45 of the 60 passengers and the 22-year-old driver, health officials said. State television Channel 8 reported that local residents tried to rescue the trapped passengers, but they failed because of the bees.