A total of 12 people were killed and nine others injured in a bus accident triggered by a tyre blast on Thursday morning in north China's Shanxi Province.

The accident occurred at 10:30 a.m. when a bus running on the Lishi-Jundu section of the Qingdao-Yinchuan highway had a tyre burst. Ten people died on the spot, and two died despite treatment.

Nine people are receiving treatment at hospital, according to the provincial traffic administration.

Investigation is underway for the cause of the accident.

(Xinhua News Agency July 18, 2008)