La Paz  - Ten foreign tourists and three Bolivians died when two buses crashed at the Salar de Uyuni, the world's largest salt flat, Bolivian police said Friday.

"Five are from Israel, and the other five are from Japan. Three Bolivians died too: a tourist guide, a cook and one of the drivers of the vehicles involved in the accident. The only one that did not die is the other driver, but he is in delicate condition because he suffered severe burns," the police said.

The accident happened Thursday. The charred bodies of the 10 foreigners were taken to the public hospital in Uyuni. Officials from the Israeli and Japanese embassies in Bolivia were expected to identify them.

According to media reports, the crash was due to excessive speed and lack of caution form the drivers. (dpa)