Bus crash in storm: Three dead, international passengers involved
At least three people have died, and four have been seriously injured in a bus accident in northwestern Norway. The bus, likely carrying 58 passengers, veered off the road and slid down a slope into Lake Asvatnet.
The accident occurred about 200 kilometres west of Narvik, on the E10 road. The regular bus, carrying approximately 58 people, suddenly swerved off the road, crashed through barriers, and slid down the slope into the lake.
Part of the bus ended up underwater. Rescuers, who quickly arrived at the scene, had difficulty reaching the people inside.
At least three people have died
Reports confirm at least three fatalities. According to the latest reports, four people have been severely injured, three of whom were airlifted to the hospital by helicopter.
The remaining rescued passengers were transported to a nearby school, where they were offered temporary shelter.
According to Norwegian media reports, the vehicle that went off the road was a regular bus route running from Narvik to the Lofoten archipelago. Bent Are Eilertsen, the local police chief, informed Norwegian media that the bus was carrying citizens of eight countries.
According to police, there were 20 Chinese citizens on board the bus. The accident also involved Singapore, India, Malaysia, the Netherlands, South Sudan, France, and Norway passengers.
The police are appealing to those who were on the bus or anyone who may know someone who was to report this information to them. Since it was a regular bus route, there is no passenger list, and there could have been more than 58 passengers.
The bus remains partially in the water. Emergency services will attempt to retrieve it during the night, provided the weather does not interfere. A strong storm is sweeping over northern Norway. Over the next 12 hours, up to 50 centimetres of snow may fall in the region where the accident occurred. Meteorological services have issued a warning for winds that may reach speeds of up to 100 kilometres per hour in gusts.
Rescue services and police are still on the scene, trying to determine the causes of the accident. It is already known that at the time of the incident, visibility was limited by a snowstorm, the road was covered in ice, and wind gusts reached up to 100 kilometres per hour.
Source: dagbladet.no, nrk.no, PAP
