Sixteen people, including 10 children, were killed in a traffic accident on Sunday morning in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, local police confirmed Sunday night.

A farm truck carrying 32 passengers drove off the road and plunged into a river in Gongqiao Township, Zhaoping County, when driver Zhang Chengzhi attempted to overtake another vehicle.

Another 17 passengers were rescued, at least 8 of them injured. No information on their condition was provided.

Farm trucks are often used for transportation in underdeveloped rural areas of China even though the law prohibits their use for passenger transport.

(Xinhua News Agency December 6, 2004)