Authorities in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region confirmed 25 people were killed in a highway accident on Tuesday.

Five others who were injured in the accident were hospitalized, said a source from the autonomous regional emergency response office.

According local sources, the accident occurred sometime between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. on the highway from Akqi County to Atux City. Most of the dead are students.

The students, mostly of Kirgiz and Han ethnic groups, were on a health check-up trip after having passed entrance examinations of high schools in the developed eastern areas.

As the accident took place in a mountainous area, communication is difficult.

Leaders of local authorities have rushed to the scene to direct rescue efforts.

Cause of the accident is under investigation.

The county seat of Akqi, located in the western part of Xinjiang, is about 1,180 km away from the regional capital Urumqi.

(Xinhua News Agency August 12, 2008)