At least 12 people were killed and 32 others injured as their bus fell off a steep in central China's Hunan Province Tuesday, local government said Wednesday.

The accident happened at about 7:50 AM Tuesday when a passenger bus suddenly overturned into a 20-meter-deep ravine in Suining County of Shaoyang City, which is about 400 km southwest to the provincial capital of Changsha.

Nine were killed on the spot and three others died after rescueefforts failed.

It is still unclear how many people were onboard when the bus was swerved off the cliff.

All the injured people are receiving medical treatment, and the five badly injured, including the driver, are in a critical condition.

Local officials have rushed to the site of the accident to deal with the aftermath. The cause of the accident is being investigated.

(Xinhua News Agency April 13, 2006)