CHENGDU, March 7 -- Death toll rises to 11 after a minibus fell into a river in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Thursday, local authorities said Friday.

The minibus crashed through the barriers on a bridge in Yilong County of Nanchong City and fell into the river. Five bodies were retrieved on Friday, raising the death toll to eleven. The driver was rescued.

Search is still going on.

Authorities said the depth of the river, 14 meters, and freezing temperatures have made rescue difficult.