Friday, December 27, 2024

Multiple deaths reported in Norway after bus skids into lake

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The bus was carrying around 70 people ​when it came off a road in the north of the country

A bus carrying dozens of people has reportedly crashed into a lake in Norway, killing some of those on board and injuring others.

The vehicle with up to 70 passengers was partially submerged after it was driven off a road into Åsvatnet lake, VG newspaper reported.

The accident happened at about 1.30pm local time in the Hadsel district on the country’s north-western coast.

A disaster alert was issued by the local Nordland Hospital. Some passengers were evacuated to a nearby school.

Police said there were reports of deaths but did not say how many people are believed to have been killed.

Emergency services attended the scene, including rescue helicopters, ambulance crews and volunteers from Red Cross and other organisations.

Hege Iren Hanssen, spokesperson for University Hospital of North Norway, said they were assisting Nordland Hospital and sent at least nine ambulances from Narvik and Sør-Troms, as well as a helicopter from Tromsø.

A man whose girlfriend was on the bus told VG she was left bruised after the accident and was going to get a medical check-up.

He said: “There were a lot of emergency services, panic and chaos at the scene. It looked like they were in control. The helicopter landed just as we were there.

“There was an extremely large number of cars there. People stopped and let people into the cars so they could get warm.”

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