18 dead, 2 in hospital after bus plunged into lake in China

Tragedy struck in the Chinese central province of Hubei after a passenger bus plunged into a lake killing 18 people while two others who are in critical condition are in hospital following the incident.

Reports say the bus driver has been placed under investigation with the provincial government confirming on its official website that two people survived the accident.

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Much of central China has been enveloped in thick fog for the past few days, although reports didn’t say if weather was considered a factor in the accident which left the bus almost entirely submerged. It said an investigation has been opened into the cause.

Aggressive driving, exhausted drivers and poorly maintained vehicles are also frequently cited as causes of such crashes in China, although the authorities have begun to crack down in recent years. Accidents involving water bodies are particularly fatal because few Chinese are taught to swim, especially in rural areas.