SUKKUR: At least 20 people were killed Monday when a bus overturned in strong water currents in flood-hit Pakistan, officials said.

The accident took place near Khad Buzdar village in the centre of the country. The bus, which had 50 people on board, was bound for the northwestern city of Peshawar.

"At least 20 people are confirmed dead and 10 others were rescued," Doctor Natiq Hayat, from the local emergency rescue service, told AFP.

"The search for other passengers is on."

Dera Ghazi Khan district administration chief Iftikhar Ali said the route had been closed overnight due to the danger of torrents of water from nearby hills but that the bus driver ignored the warning.

Near month-long floods have killed 1,500 people and affected up to 20 million nationwide in Pakistan`s worst natural disaster.

BDST: 1326 HRS, August 23, 2010