A holiday outing in the Swiss Alps turned catastrophic when a bus carrying Dutch tourists crashed and plunged down a slope in eastern Switzerland, leaving five people dead and 40 injured.
The crash occurred at about 4.45pm (3.45pm Irish time) yesterday on the road between the communes of Susch and Zernez in the far-eastern canton of Graubunden.
A local police spokesman told Swiss media the coach struck a safety barrier, then overturned before sliding down an embankment.
The Dutch Federation of Travel Agencies (ANVR) said the vehicle was operated by tour company Oad and had 48 passengers on board, all from the Netherlands.
“Several people died in the coach crash in Susch. Several others were also injured,” the cantonal police said on X, offering no further details about how the accident happened or the identities of those affected.
Police said three people suffered serious injuries, seven were moderately hurt and 30 sustained minor injuries. Authorities also noted there were 45 adults travelling on the bus.
All of those who died were adults, but officials said the victims have not yet been identified.
ANVR said the coach departed the Netherlands on Monday and was on a day trip to Switzerland from Austria when the accident happened.
Images aired by Swiss broadcasters showed rescuers moving quickly around the wrecked coach, with helicopters positioned nearby as emergency teams worked at the scene.
In a statement, Oad said it was “deeply shocked and devastated by the tragic accident”.
“Our thoughts are with everyone involved and their loved ones. Local authorities are currently fully engaged in relief efforts and in determining the situation and the number of casualties,” it added.
“We are doing everything in our power to obtain clarity quickly and to support those involved and their families wherever possible.”
Swiss President Guy Parmelin expressed condolences to the victims’ families, describing the crash as a “tragic accident”.
Zernez is known as a gateway for visitors to the Swiss national park, an Alpine wilderness spanning more than 100 square kilometres across the mountainous Engadine valley.
