The Seoul government on Friday held its first meeting with the families of victims of a bus crash that killed 10 Koreans in northeastern China to discuss the measures and compensation, while uninjured members from the same trip returned home.

The bus, which was carrying 26 Korean government employees, plunged off a highway bridge into a river in Jian, China, on Wednesday, killing 10 Korean public servants and a Chinese driver. The vehicle was en route from Jian to Dandong, a city that borders North Korea.

About eight people are reported to be in critical condition and will stay in China until they recover, the Korean government said.

Some 37 bereaved family members as well as 13 government employees arrived in Jian on Thursday to handle the situation and say their goodbyes to the victims.

The family members had their first meeting with the emergency task force, led by Government Administration Vice Minister Chung Chae-gun, to discuss the causes of the accident as well as compensation in the Chinese city on Friday.

“We are planning to talk about many things including the funeral process, how the deceased will be returned to Seoul, and also to ask about what their biggest needs are,” said Kim Seong-ryoel from the Government Administration Ministry prior to the meeting on Thursday.

Also on Friday, 103 Korean public servants who accompanied the victims to the workshop to China returned to Seoul.

The victims were working for municipal governments nationwide visiting China for the five-day workshop, organized by the state-run Local Government Officials Training Institute.

The annual program consisted of visiting historical sites of Goguryeo (B.C. 37―A.D. 667), and places where Korean independence fighters resisted Japanese forces during World War II.

While the exact cause of the accident is still under investigation, CCTV footage broadcast by local Chinese media outlets showed the vehicle shaking at high speed before plunging off the bridge.

By Claire Lee (dyc@heraldcorp.com)