RABAT, Morocco - A fiery head-on collision between a semi-trailer truck and a bus carrying a delegation of young athletes in southern Morocco on Friday killed 31 people and injured nine, according to the state news agency and local media reports.

The news agency quoted authorities saying the crash took place just before sunrise at 7 a.m. in the district of Chbika, near the southern desert city of Tan-Tan.

According to details provided by the Le360.ma news site, the bus hit a tanker truck which burst into flames, consuming both vehicles. The site said the bus was carrying young athletes and officials from the Ministry of Youth and Sports that were involved in a national sports competition.

The Les Ecos newspaper reported on its website that the bus was carrying a delegation of young athletes from the northern town of Bouznika and from Laayoune, a city further to the south in the annexed Western Sahara territory.