Twenty-two people are dead, 46 are injured and 13 are missing
after three traffic accidents Wednesday and Thursday in central and
southwestern China.
A van carrying 31 people plunged into a river around
1:30?AM on Thursday in Gonggashan Township, Kangding County,
capital of the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze, Sichuan
province.
Eight people died, six were injured, and 13 passengers are
missing, according to the provincial administration of work safety.
Four were rescued unharmed.
The injured were hospitalized and rescuers are still hunting for
the missing.
In another accident in the same province, a bus with 38
passengers aboard veered off a highway and overturned on Wednesday
afternoon in Yuechi county, while attempting to avoid two vehicles
parked ahead.
Eight people were killed and 31 were injured, including one in
critical condition, according to hospital and government
sources.
On Wednesday, a bus carrying 22 passengers veered off a village
road and plunged down a 150-meter-deep valley around 6:40 a.m. in
Sangzhi county, Zhangjiajie city in central Hunan province.
Four died at the scene and two others died on their way to
hospital.
Twelve were injured, including two seriously, according to the
Zhangjiajie city government.
Local authorities are investigating the causes of the
accidents.
(Xinhua News Agency September 14, 2007)