Eight people died and 21 were injured when a bus plunged off a bridge in southwest China's Guizhou Province on Monday, according to the provincial work safety administration.

The bus carrying 31 people from the provincial capital, Guiyang, to Anshun city in the mountainous province crashed over the 10-meter high bridge on the Qingzhen-Huangguoshu expressway at about 8:30 a.m., and landed on rocks in a gorge below.

Six people died at the scene, and two others died in hospital. Four people were severely injured and 17 were slightly hurt.

Two people escaped from the bus unhurt.

All the injured are being treated in hospital and police and safety officials are investigating the cause of the accident.

(Xinhua News Agency February 11, 2008)