Bus plunges into gorge, killing 10

MAGETAN, East Java (JP): At least 10 people died and 13 others were injured when a bus carrying a family heading to a wedding reception fell into a ravine near Sarangan village, East Java on Sunday evening.

Magetan Police Precinct chief Supt. Budi Susilo said the family were residents of Jepara regency and were on their way to a wedding in Mantren village, Magetan regency.

"The Bunga Indah bus' brakes gave way before it slid into the gorge. Furthermore, the bus was overloaded. Its capacity is only 24 but there were 39 people onboard that time," he was quoted by Antara as saying here on Monday.

The casualties were identified as Ngatmiran, Suyatni, Kamilah, Asiah, Waginem, Listyawati, Sumardi, Vega, Candra dan Mukasirin.

Among the 13 people who suffered serious injury, Harjo Kusrin, 45, and his 20-year-old daughter Murni are still unconscious and are in intensive care at the state-run Madiun Hospital.

The bus driver, Suwarno, a resident of Blimbing Rejo village in Jepara regency, was also being treated in hospital.

Budi Susilo said the bus plunged 30 meters and became caught in the branches of pine trees.(bby)