10 dead, 10 injured in S China road accident

NANNING - Ten people, including five children, were killed and 10 others injured after a minibus fell into a mountain valley Friday morning in South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

A nine-seat minibus carrying 20 people plunged into the valley around 6 am while en route from the regional capital of Nanning to Dahua, a Yao ethnic county, said a spokesman with the county government.

Eight passengers died at the scene, while one died on the way to hospital and another after arriving at the hospital.

The 10 injured are receiving treatment, including a three-month-old infant who is in critical condition, the spokesman said.

The infant's mother, 24-year-old Wei Yuefang, said she and her family were in the minibus heading for the home village of Bahaotun in Qibainong township to attend a wedding.

She said she was carrying her sleeping daughter when the accident happened, adding that they were thrown out of the vehicle while it was falling into the valley.

"Passengers who were still conscious shouted for help. Nearby villagers came and saved us," said Wei.

The cause of the accident is under investigation.