Van plunges into ravine, five die

PADANG, West Sumatra: At least five people died and 16 others were injured after the van they were riding in plunged into a deep ravine on Pulau Batangkapas hill, Pesisir Selatan district in West Sumatra, on Wednesday.

The accident occurred when the brakes failed and the driver, identified as Pino, lost control of the van, Pesisir Selatan Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Bambang Hermanto said on Thursday.

The van plunged into a 250-meter deep ravine.

The dead were identified as Gusniwita, 38, Irdam, 45, Mai, 35, Ermaini, 40, and Syamsinar, 46.

The injured include Afnida Suryani, Neni Salmi, Lili Lidia and Era Gusneva.

The victims were rescued by policemen and local residents, Bambang said. -- Antara