Six killed from rocks in Fengjie county, Chongqing

Six people were killed and another nine were injured after falling rocks hit a bus in Fengjie county of Chongqing on Thursday afternoon, local authorities said.

The county's transport bureau said in a statement that when the bus, carrying 18 passengers, was traveling near the town of Gongping at 3:30 pm, it was hit on its rear-end by rockfall from a hill on the side of the road from some 30 meters high.

After the incident, the driver and passengers began rescue operations right away. Six passengers died on the scene, nine passengers sustained minor injuries and were transported to hospital for treatments. Three passengers were unharmed.

It added that the area has experienced persistent rain, which may have caused the accident.

The county offered condolences to the victims and said it would make all-out efforts to help the injured and eliminate safety hazards.