Investigators on Wednesday said a blown tire is to blame for a deadly bus accident that killed seven people in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

The bus, carrying 23 passengers, went off a road and plunged into a ravine in Ningcheng, Chifeng City on Tuesday. A spokesman with the Ningcheng County government said, the accident happened after the front left tire burst.

Seven people, including the driver whose surname was Li, were killed. The remaining 16 were injured and remain hospitalized, seven in critical condition.

The bus was traveling from Shantou village to Tianyi township within the county when the accident occurred.

(Xinhua News Agency February 4, 2009)