Bus falls into river in southwestern China; 27 feared dead, 11 rescued

Bus falls into river in SW China, 27 feared dead

BEIJING — A bus plunged into a river in southwestern China early Sunday, leaving 27 people on board missing and feared dead, state media reported. Rescuers were able to save 11 others.

The official Xinhua News agency said the accident occurred in southwestern Sichuan province when the long-distance passenger bus fell into the Dajin River in Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Xinhua had initially reported that the bus had fallen off a cliff, killing 23 people.

The bus had been traveling from Ma’erkang County in Sichuan to the provincial capital of Chengdu when it plummeted into the river. It was designed to carry a maximum of 35 people but had 38 people aboard, including three children, Xinhua said.

Rescuers continued their search for the missing during the day. An investigation was under way for the cause of the accident.

No other details were immediately available.