Twenty-two people are dead, 46 are injured and 13 are missing after three traffic accidents Wednesday and Thursday in central and southwestern China.

A van carrying 31 people plunged into a river around 1:30 AM on Thursday in Gonggashan Township, Kangding County, capital of the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze, Sichuan province.

Eight people died, six were injured, and 13 passengers are missing, according to the provincial administration of work safety. Four were rescued unharmed.

The injured were hospitalized and rescuers are still hunting for the missing.

In another accident in the same province, a bus with 38 passengers aboard veered off a highway and overturned on Wednesday afternoon in Yuechi county, while attempting to avoid two vehicles parked ahead.

Eight people were killed and 31 were injured, including one in critical condition, according to hospital and government sources.

On Wednesday, a bus carrying 22 passengers veered off a village road and plunged down a 150-meter-deep valley around 6:40 a.m. in Sangzhi county, Zhangjiajie city in central Hunan province.

Four died at the scene and two others died on their way to hospital.

Twelve were injured, including two seriously, according to the Zhangjiajie city government.

Local authorities are investigating the causes of the accidents.

(Xinhua News Agency September 14, 2007)