At least five Chinese tourists lost their lives and eight others sustained minor injuries on Friday (Nov 14) after a rented minibus they were travelling in fell into a shallow ravine on the Indonesian island of Bali, authorities reported. According to officials, the group of thirteen Chinese nationals had been on their way to Buleleng, a district located in northern Bali, after departing from Denpasar, the island’s capital, when the tragic incident occurred.

Local police chief Widwan Sutadi informed Reuters that the crash happened when the driver appeared to lose control of the vehicle. Realising the danger of an imminent collision with another car, the driver attempted to swerve left, aiming to crash into a tree to minimise the impact. However, the manoeuvre was unsuccessful. Instead of stopping, the minibus veered off the road and tumbled into a nearby ravine, resulting in the fatal accident.

Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene and transported all the victims to the closest hospital for treatment. Despite their efforts, five passengers were declared dead shortly after arrival due to the severity of their injuries. The remaining eight passengers, who suffered only light injuries, received medical care and were reported to be in stable condition. The driver, who survived the crash, was also injured and taken to the hospital for treatment. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident, including whether mechanical failure, road conditions, or driver error played a role in the tragedy.