At least two dead after bus plunges into Yangtze River

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A bus plunged into the Yangtze River from a bridge in southwestern China's Chongqing Municipality after it crashed into a car on Sunday morning.

Two of the ten passengers have been confirmed dead, and a rescue operation is underway.

Here's what we know so far:

Updated at 22:30 p.m. BJT

The salvage team have confirmed the bus is approximately 68 meters under the surface.

Blue Sky Rescue Team, China's largest non-governmental humanitarian organization, has sent 88 people to join the operation.

Salvage of the sunken bus is underway. /People's Daily Photo

Updated at 17:57 p.m. BJT

Chongqing police released the preliminary result of Sunday's investigation, saying more than 10 people were on the bus when the incident happened.

The police also said that the bus had veered across the road into the oncoming traffic and crashed into the car before it plunged into the Yangtze River.

The car was driving in the correct lane, according to the statement, refuting previous media reports that the car was in the wrong lane.

Updated at 4:20 p.m. BJT

Blue Sky Rescue (BSR) Team is conducting the rescue operation. / BSR Photo

Latest reports said the sunken bus has been located more than 60 meters underwater.

A 60-tonne floating crane is now in place and will be used to lift the bus out of the river.

Initial reports said the bus was trying to avoid a head-on collision with the car which was driving in the wrong lane.

Updated at 3:10 p.m. BJT

The driver of the car was detained after the incident, local authorities confirmed.

The Armed Police Force in Chongqing has dispatched 12 soldiers and three rescue boats to the area for the search operation. Another group of 24 rescuers, which includes 17 divers, has also rushed to the scene.

Rescue operation is underway. / CNR Photo

Updated at 1:37 p.m. BJT

At least two people have been confirmed dead as another body of a passenger from the bus was found, according to local authorities.

Updated at 1:10 p.m. BJT

Rescuers have found one body from the bus that plunged into the Yangtze River in Wanzhou District, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, on Sunday morning, Xinhua reported.

The incident happened at around 10:00 a.m. BJT when the bus crashed into a car on the bridge, police said in a statement.

The number of passengers on board is unknown. A rescue operation is underway.

1247km