KUNMING - Ten people have been confirmed dead after a commercial van overturned in southwest China's Yunnan Province on Tuesday night, local authorities said Wednesday.

The eight-seat van overturned and fell into a 500 meter-deep ravine around 9 p.m. in Lianfeng Township, Yongshan County in the city of Zhaotong, according to the publicity department of Yongshan county.

As the vehicle was destroyed and the bodies of the victims were lying apart from the vehicle, the number of passengers on the van has yet to be verified.

Rescue work is still under way.