In two traffic accidents in southwest China's Yunnan Province, 18 people including one Japanese were killed and 19 others injured, said local sources on Thursday.

A minibus with 21 passengers aboard first hit construction workers on a road in Qujing City and plunged down into a 91-meter-deep valley, said a spokesman with Qujing city government.

Sixteen passengers, including a child and a construction worker, were killed in the accident. Seven others were injured two of whom are in a serious condition. 

In the other accident a bus carrying 19 Japanese tourists left the road on a bend in Heqing County on Thursday afternoon.

"A 78-year-old female Japanese died on the way to hospital and 12 other Japanese were injured, one seriously," said He Wenping, an official with Dali prefecture government.

The Japanese visitors were on their way to Lijiang from Dali, two famous scenic spots in Yunnan, when the accident happened, said He. All the injured were taken to local hospitals, said local sources. 

Local authorities are investigating the two accidents.

(Xinhua News Agency December 29, 2006)