JAKARTA - Five Chinese nationals were killed and eight others injured early Friday in a single-vehicle traffic accident in Buleleng Regency in northern Bali, Indonesia, the Chinese Consulate General in Denpasar said, adding that it has activated an emergency response mechanism.

According to local police, the accident involved a minibus that crashed into a tree and tumbled down a slope at around 4:30 am local time on the Denpasar-Singaraja road near Gitgit village. Officers from the Indonesian Red Cross, police and local residents rescued the injured passengers and transported them to nearby hospitals.

Police said the vehicle was carrying 14 people. The driver was an Indonesian national, while all 13 passengers were Chinese citizens.

The Chinese Consulate General in Denpasar said it received the police notification early Friday morning and immediately launched its emergency mechanism. It has been in close contact with Indonesian authorities to verify the casualties, establish direct communication with those involved, and coordinate local volunteer teams to provide translation and other assistance.

The consulate said it will continue to work with relevant departments to handle follow-up matters and make every effort to provide consular protection and assistance.