A bus accident in southwest China's Sichuan Province killed at least eight people Wednesday morning, local police said.

The accident occurred at 10:11 AM when a 17-seat small bus fell into a 7.2-meter deep ditch near Daqiao Reservoir in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture in western Sichuan.

By 6:00 p.m., rescuers have found two survivors and eight bodies, including that of the driver, according to the police.

Investigators are trying to ascertain the total number of passengers on board the bus when the accident took place.

(Xinhua News Agency May 11, 2006)