At least 24 killed in bus crash in southern Italy

Rome (CNN) -- A bus returning pilgrims from a weekend visit to a Catholic shrine went off a bridge in southern Italy on Sunday, leaving at least 24 dead, including some children, the Italian news agency ANSA reported.

Roughly 40 passengers were on the bus when it was traveling east of Naples in Avellino province, according to ANSA, which earlier reported up to 30 dead in the crash. Eleven people were in hospitalized in serious condition, Luca Cari, a fire spokesman, told CNN.

The passengers had participated in a weekend pilgrimage to the Padre Pio shrine in San Giovanni Rotondo.

Andrea Regione, a photographer for the Corriere dell'Irpinia newspaper, told CNN that the bus went off a bridge and fell roughly 30 meters (almost 100 feet) into a heavily wooded area below.

Photos from the scene showed a broken guardrail and the bus laying on its side.

Another photo appeared to show a line of bodies -- each covered in a white sheet.

Regione estimated that 10 other vehicles were involved in the crash. It's unknown what led to the accident.