At least 26 people have been killed in north China's Tianjin City as an inter-city bus rushed out of an expressway and fell into a ditch.

The bus had 30 people on board and was travelling from Xingtai city in northern Hebei province to Shenyang city in northeastern Liaoning province.

Four passengers survived with minor injuries. They have already been brought to hospital. Initial investigation suggests one of the bus' tires burst, which caused it to fall.