Seven people were killed and 43 others injured when a bus fell off a road in central China's Hubei Province Thursday morning, local authorities said.

The double-deck coach carrying at least 50 passengers suddenly veered off about 20 meters away from a mountainous road in Badong county of Yichang city at about 0:30 AM, according to the local police.

The bus, belonged to Hubei Passenger Transport Group, was en route from Wuhan city to Wuxi county of Chongqing Municipality.

Five people were killed on the spot and two were dead later on the way to a local hospital.

Another 43 injured passengers have been hospitalized.

Police said all the victims were migrant workers who were in a home-bound trip to Wuxi.

The cause of the accident is being investigated.

(Xinhua News Agency January 4, 2008)