China orders bus safety sweep after fatal accident

China's Ministry of Transport has ordered a sweeping inspection of long-distance bus safety after a fatal road accident killed 36 people on Sunday.

Local transport authorities must immediately launch a comprehensive examination of all long-distance buses and routes to eliminate potential safety hazards, the ministry said in a statement on its website.

Buses that fail safety checks will be banned from roads, according to the statement.

Effective measures must be taken to ensure bus drivers have enough rest and prevent drowsy driving, it added.

A double-decker sleeper bus burst into flames after rear-ending a methanol tanker in the city of Yan'an in Shaanxi Province early on Sunday, killing 36 onboard.