Turkish bus falls into creek, at least five dead

ANKARA, Mar 9 (Reuters) At least five people died and 11 were injured today when the bus they were riding plunged into a fast-flowing river in central Turkey, the state Anatolian news agency said.

Turkish television showed the bus almost completely submerged in the river, which flowed through a creek in Tokat province about 300 km (185 miles) east of the capital Ankara.

Anatolian quoted local official Ferhat Kurtoglu as saying a total of 39 people had been on the bus and a number of people were still missing. Teams of divers were helping the rescue operation, it said.

The bus had been travelling from Istanbul to the eastern city of Van when the accident occurred.

REUTERS SHR HS1455