NANNING, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Two people died and eight others remained missing as of 9 a.m. Monday, after a pickup truck plunged into a river in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Saturday, local authorities said.

The death toll rose after a woman previously counted as missing was found dead. Her body was found three kilometers downstream from the first barrage underneath the site where the vehicle plunged into the river, and was confirmed dead at the scene. Eight others remained missing.

The accident took place on Saturday night, when a pickup truck carrying 15 people fell into the water while crossing a flooded bridge in Luoyang Township of Huanjiang Maonan Autonomous County, and five people were rescued, according to the county government.

Rescuers are now adjusting water levels via a river barrage to facilitate searches, and full-scale search operations for the missing persons are well underway, according to the local authorities.  ■