(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-10-02 20:38

CHONGQING -- Twenty-seven people have been killed after a bus combusted of itself in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, rescuers said on Tuesday.

The bus with 38 people aboard, caught fire at around 5:15 pm Tuesday on its way from Wansheng district to downtown Chongqing, they said.

Eleven escaped and were rushed to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment.

The fire was "quite fierce", rescuers said.

The bus belonged to the Wansheng Branch of Chongqing Guangzhong No. 3 Public Transport Company.

Vice mayors of Chongqing Yu Yuanmu and Tong Xiaoping immediately rushed to the site to handle the accident with personnel from public security, fire fighting, work safety and health departments.