Updated 2.56pm with MPT statement

A 23-year-old woman has died after being hit by a bus on Mdina Road in Birkirkara at lunchtime on Wednesday.

The woman, from Serbia, was taken to Mater Dei by ambulance but was declared dead shortly afterwards.

Police attended the incident that happened at around 12pm near a bus stop on the road near Mrieħel, which leads to Sta Venera, opposite the Busy Bee cafe. 

Malta police photo.

The woman's bag, with its contents sprawled along the street, could be seen on site.

She was the 18th victim of a traffic accident this year and the second pedestrian in a week to die on Malta's roads, after a 29-year-old man from Eritrea was killed in Marsa on Sunday.

The bus had a severely damaged windscreen. The window of the passenger door came off after being hit by passengers during the sudden stop.

Police said the driver was a 41-year-old Filipino.

The road was temporarily closed to traffic following the crash. In a statement, Malta Public Transport said that it would be making CCTV footage of the incident available to authorities and pledged to offer whatever assistance and support was needed.

"Malta Public Transport extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased at this difficult time," a spokesperson for the company said. Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech is holding an inquiry into the incident. 

Earlier this week, Times of Malta revealed that the number of people killed on in traffic crashes in the first half of the year, represents the deadliest mid-year point since at least 1995.