Bus with 48 Dutch passengers crashes in Switzerland near Zernez
There have been fatalities and injuries in an accident involving a coach from the Netherlands in the east of Switzerland. This has been confirmed by the Graubünden cantonal police. The accident occurred late in the afternoon on the road between Zernez and Susch. The exact number of casualties has not yet been released.
There were 48 passengers from the Netherlands on the bus. They had started their trip last Monday and were on a day trip to Switzerland from Austria. The trip was organized by travel agency Oad. The bus is owned by a coach company from Eibergen. A spokesperson for the travel agency describes it as a terrible accident and says they are working to identify the victims.
Photos from the scene show the bus lying on its side on the verge. The road has been closed by the police. Ambulances and a large group of emergency responders are on site, including five helicopters. The injured have presumably been taken to the hospital in Scuol. It is unclear whether another vehicle was involved in the accident, and the cause is being investigated. An eyewitness stated to a Swiss newspaper that there was roadwork on that stretch of road and only one lane was open, but this has not been confirmed by the police.
Family members of people who are on this trip can contact the travel agency. Official information regarding victims will come from the Graubünden cantonal police and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Please wait for that confirmation before drawing conclusions, as initial reports on casualty numbers often change in accidents like this. If you share images or names on social media, please keep in mind that next of kin may not yet have been notified.