A collision occurred on a highway in northern Mexico on Sunday, with a passenger bus and a truck engulfed in flames, killing 26 people on board.

Prosecutors and police in the northern border state of Tamaulipas said the death toll was a preliminary count, apparently due to the sheer amount of debris and the fire that destroyed the truck and cargo trailer.

The cab pulling the cargo trailer was not found at the scene, suggesting the driver may have disconnected it and fled.

The accident occurred on a highway near the state capital, Ciudad Victoria, and the cause is being investigated, officials said.

Local media reported that many of the victims may be members of a large family returning from an excursion, but authorities have not confirmed this.