JAKARTA, July 2 (News Agencies) - A bus carrying kindergarten children on a picnic plunged into a ravine in Indonesia’s East Java province on Tuesday, July 2, killing 22 people including nine children, a hospital doctor said.

“We have had more than 70 people, old and young, admitted. There are 13 women and nine children including two infants killed,” said Malik, a doctor at the general hospital in the town of Jember, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.

The doctor said the 22 were dead on arrival in hospital. At least six other people were in critical condition and had to undergo surgery.

The bus, of the state Damri public bus company, was carrying the children and their parents from Jember to the Pasir Putih beach on the north coast of Java.

“The bus fell into a ravine near Arjasa and we are still working to retrieve the passengers,” said an officer at the police station at Jember.

The bus hit the side of a bridge before plunging into the eight-meter-deep (27 foot) ravine, the policeman said.

Police were investigating the cause of the accident.

Jember police traffic chief, Adjunct Commissioner Sulistiyo was quoted by Antara news agency as blaming human error.

The head of Jember’s road and traffic division, Rusdianto, was quoted by Antara as saying the road was not suitable for big buses.