Bus accident kills eight

JAKARTA (JP): Eight passengers were killed and 16 others were seriously injured Friday evening when their bus plunged into a ravine in Madura, an island north of East Java.

Spokesman of East Java police Lt.Col. Ahmad Rifai said it was likely that the accident happened because the driver lost control of the vehicle after one of the tires exploded.

The bus hit a roadside tree before it plunged into the steep ravine in Lombang village of Bangkalan district, he was quoted by Antara as saying yesterday.

The bus was heading for Malang, East Java.

Earlier on Friday a truck hit a car on the highway of Surabaya-Pasuruan, killing two people.(sim)