#Bus carrying Chinese high school students falls into lake, killing at least 21

At least 21 people were killed and 15 injured Tuesday when a bus carrying students to take their college entrance exams plunged into a lake in southwest China, according to reports.

The bus plowed through a guardrail and veered into Hongshan Lake in Guizhou province about noon local time, emergency management officials said, Agence France-Presse reported.

The Anshun city government said the bus was hauled out of the lake after the injured were rushed to local hospitals.

The vehicle included high school students who were to take the grueling “gaokao” exams, state broadcaster CCTV reported.

Social media users expressed their condolences on the country’s microblogging site Weibo.

“I hope the death toll will not rise anymore. 2020 has truly been full of disasters and difficulties,” one user said.

Officials said more than 200 people helped with rescue efforts, including 55 professional divers, AFP reported.

Authorities pledged an investigation into the cause of the tragedy.

With Post wires