A tour bus originating from the Netherlands was involved in a fatal crash in the south-eastern Swiss Alps late on Thursday afternoon. The vehicle struck a safety barrier in a roadworks zone, subsequently left the roadway and overturned in an area between Susch and Zernez located in the Graubünden region. Swiss police confirmed on Friday that five fatalities resulted from the incident, though the deceased individuals had not been identified at that time.
Of the 40 remaining passengers aboard the coach, all sustained injuries ranging from serious to minor. Emergency response teams transported the injured individuals to hospitals using a combination of rescue helicopters and ambulance services. Police noted that three passengers suffered serious injuries. The rescue operation involved seven helicopters dispatched from both Switzerland and Austria, along with local fire departments and the Plaiv road rescue service.
The coach had departed from the Netherlands on Monday and was conducting a day excursion to Switzerland from Austria when the accident occurred. Senior officials from both nations issued statements regarding the incident. The Dutch Prime Minister expressed condolences to those affected, while King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima conveyed their sympathy to the victims and their families. Swiss President Guy Parmelin stated he was deeply shocked by the event and offered his sympathies to the families of the deceased.
Authorities initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash. The Graubünden cantonal police and the regional public prosecutor’s office are examining factors that contributed to the collision. The crash location near Zernez lies at the entrance to the Swiss National Park, an expansive Alpine nature reserve covering more than 100 square kilometers across the Engadine valley region.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI