HAIKOU - Hainan police said on Sunday that five people had been detained following a deadly bus accident on Thursday, in which eight students were killed and 32 others injured.

Police in China's southernmost province of Hainan said among those detained were the principal of Xincai School and an investor in the private school, the bus driver and an executive of the bus company.

The bus carrying 47 people overturned at about 11 am Thursday in Chengmai county, where Xincai School had organized an outing for 586 students on 14 buses.

The driver, only named as Zhao, was blamed for driving on an road under construction. The road was slippery due to rain.

The Xincai School, a private school, did not report to any authorities before organizing the outing, according to the local government.

The county government has already paid 100,000 yuan ($16,258) to the families of each of those killed.

Police are still collecting testimonies of teachers and students.

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