From correspondents in Asia Pacific, 12:30 AM IST

At least five people were killed Saturday when a passenger bus plunged into a river in China's central province of Hubei.

Twenty people were on board the bus at the time of the accident at around 1.30 p.m. The bus was on its way to Yichang.

The bus hit the railing of a bridge over Huangbo river, a tributary of Yangtze, and plunged into the river, an official said.

Twelve people were rescued, while four people were missing, the official said.

The cause of the accident is being investigated.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)