20000227

21 killed

in China

BEIJING: Twenty-one passengers were killed and 27 injured when an overloaded bus plunged 40 meters into a deep gulley in southern China's Guangxi province, state press reported on Saturday.

The bus was designed to carry only 19 passengers, but was carrying more than twice that number, the report said.

The driver, who was only slightly injured, has been detained and could face criminal charges that could lead to up to seven years in jail.

Chinese media frequently reports large death tolls stemming from traffic accidents, many of which are due to overloaded vehicles.ÑAFP