At least 18 people were killed and five injured Tuesday morning as a vehicle for farming use fell off from a winding mountain road in northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

Twenty-three people, including the driver, were on board when the tragedy occurred at a place four kilometers to the county seat of Danfeng in Shangluo city of Shaanxi Province about 10:00 a.m. Tuesday.

The five injured were sent to the county hospital for treatment.

Local officials rushed to the spot after receiving the accident report.

The cause of the accident is under investigation.

(Xinhua News Agency February 10, 2003)