TAIPEI -- A tourist coach ran into a hillside along a highway in eastern Taiwan Tuesday afternoon, killing six and injuring 39, the local fire department said.

The bus, with 45 people on board, was on its way from Hualien county in eastern Taiwan to Taipei when the accident took place around 4 pm, the fire department of Yilan county said.

Most passengers were residents of New Taipei city and were returning from a short trip to Hualien.

According to the fire department, nine of the injured are in serious condition. The injured people have been rushed to nearby hospitals. A probe has been launched into the accident.