Geneva, Sept 10. (dpa/GNA) – Several people have been killed and others injured in a bus accident in eastern Switzerland, police said late on Thursday.
The Dutch bus struck a crash barrier and left the road before coming to rest on its side, a police spokesman told broadcaster SRF. The spokesman did not initially give the exact number of fatalities and injuries. He said there were thought to have been around 48 people on board. The recovery of bodies was still under way in the evening.
The accident occurred in the canton of Graubünden between the towns of Susch and Zernez. A group of 48 people was on board, a spokeswoman for the Dutch travel industry association ANVR told the Blick media portal. “We are deeply saddened by what has happened. It is a terrible accident,” she was quoted as saying.
Photos from the scene of the accident showed the overturned bus on its side in a field beside a road. There were numerous emergency and fire service vehicles at the scene, as well as several helicopters.
The bus was operating on behalf of well-known Dutch travel group Oad. Oad’s managing director, Arjan Koster, told the ANP news agency that he could not provide any further details about the accident, addimg that helping the victims was currently the top priority. Mr.Koster said he would await official information from the Swiss authorities, before making any further statements.
The bus group set off on Monday, heading for Austria, Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad reported.
It said an excursion to Switzerland had been on the itinerary for the day the accident occurred.
GNA