The death toll has risen to 15 after a bus plunged on Wednesday afternoon into the Fuxi River in Zigong City, southwest China's Sichuan Province.

The accident occurred at about 1:50 pm, the rush hour for many citizens returning to work or school after a noon break.

Another 38 people have been reported injured, three of them in critical condition.

The provincial work safety supervision department is blaming brake and steering wheel malfunction for the tragedy.

The bus driver, who survived the accident by jumping from the bus before it plunged into the river, has been detained.

Recovery operations are under way and the police are investigating the cause of the accident.

(Xinhua News Agency April 1, 2004)