Twenty-one people were killed and 15 injured when a school bus drove past a barrier and into a reservoir in Guizhou province.

The school bus fell into Hong Son reservoir, An Thuận town, Guizhou province, southwestern China this afternoon, killing 21 people and injuring 15.

Of the 36 people on the bus, there are students, but the exact number is unknown.

Guizhou Provincial Emergency Management said 19 fire trucks, 21 rescue boats and 97 personnel, including 17 divers, were deployed to the scene.

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The accident happened when China was holding a college entrance examination (high test), taking place in June every year, but this year was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Nearly 60% of localities in southern China experienced heavy rain during the year.

The average rainfall in China last June was 112.7 mm, which is 13.5% higher than the annual recorded figure.