Death toll from Tibet bus accident rises to 18

LHASA, Nov. 17 (Chinese media) -- The death toll from Friday's bus accident in

Tibet has risen to 18, according to local government.

Four injured passengers died while being transferred from the Nagqu

Prefecture, where the accident happened, to the regional capital Lhasa, said

Huang Kangyu, Party chief of Tibet regional traffic and transportation

administration.

Another 29 people were injured in the accident, including 17 who were

seriously wounded. They have been sent to major hospitals in Lhasa and were in a

stable condition, said Huang.

The bus, with 47 people onboard, ran off the road and plunged into a valley

on its way from Pachen county to the prefecture capital Nagqu Town at around

8:50 a.m. on Friday.

Police are investigating the cause of the crash. The bus was over its

seating capacity of 36 people.

Nagqu prefecture is more than 400 kilometers north of Lhasa.