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ix people were killed when a tour bus fell into a 15-meter ravine in Tawangmangu district, Karanganyar regency, Central Java on Sunday.

The bus was carrying 28 people, mostly teaching staff from Jimbaran Elementary School in Sidoarjo, East Java, and family members. The group was heading to visit tourist sites in Tawangmangu.

One witness, Didik Setyawan, 43, said he saw the bus as it drove from Magetan to Tawangmangu. The bus did not slow down as it attempted a steep turn, lost control and crashed into the ravine in a section of the Banaran River.

Karanganyar Police traffic unit chief First Insp. Maryadi said the incident claimed six lives while many of the survivors suffered severe injuries.

Karanganyar Police and local Search and Rescue Team assisted in the evacuation of the passengers from the ravine on Sunday afternoon. The team took the survivors to Tawangmangu health clinic and the dead to Karanganyar Regional Hospital.

“The evacuation process has been pretty difficult because the bus is located at the base of the ravine. Most of the survivors are in shock,” deputy Karanganyar Police chief Comr. Prawoko said.