6 dead and 11 injured in traffic accident in Sichuan

Six people were killed and 11 others injured in a traffic accident on Wednesday afternoon in Baoxing county, Ya'an, Sichuan province, local police said.

The accident occurred at around 6 pm when a minibus carrying 17 people crashed through a guardrail and plunged into a riverbed at Denglonggou section of Zhonggang village, according to a statement released by the Baoxing Public Security Bureau.

Rescuers from public security, emergency management, fire rescue, health, and transport departments were called to the scene immediately after the accident and the rescue operation was completed early Thursday morning, the statement said.

Among the injured, one is in serious condition but with stable vital signs, and 10 others sustained minor injuries. All the injured have been hospitalized, it added.

An investigation into the cause of the accident and follow-up work are underway.