At least 13 died and 18 others were injured after a bus fell into a river in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Sunday afternoon, local traffic police said.

The accident occurred at around 17:50 PM Sunday at the Shule County section of No. 315 national highway. The bus heading from Kashi to Yengisar County in Xinjiang, was out of control on a bridge at Shule and fell off into a river, said the traffic police.

Thirteen have died so far and 18 others have been hospitalized, with another two children missing, according to the police.

The exact number of the passengers on the bus is still unclear, said the police.

Rescue efforts and investigation into the cause of the accident are underway.

(Xinhua News Agency May 22, 2006)