SANTIAGO, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- Four people were killed and 50 others injured after two intercity buses collided Saturday morning in the northern Chilean region of Antofagasta, the country's National Service for Disaster Prevention and Response said.

The agency said in a statement that, according to first responders, the crash occurred in the Varillas area along Route 5 North in the Antofagasta municipality.

A number of victims were taken to hospitals, including one person in serious condition, while 35 others with less serious injuries were treated at the scene, authorities said.

Traffic along the route is being controlled by Carabineros, Chile's militarized police, until investigators determine the cause of the accident. ■