A bus carrying 33 passengers fell from a bridge in east China's Zhejiang Province on Wednesday, killing at least 23 people.

The accident occurred at 2:20 pm when the bus was traveling from the capital of Hangzhou to Kunshan City on the expressway. It suddenly broke the boundary wall of a bridge and fell upside-down on the ground at least ten meters beneath. Smoke came out immediately but no fire started.

Twenty-three people have been confirmed dead in the accident by the press time. Rescue work and investigation is underway.

(Xinhua News Agency May 12, 2004)