Five dead and forty injured in Dutch bus crash in Switzerland

Five people have died and forty injured after a serious accident involving a Dutch tour bus travelling through Switzerland.

The vehicle had 48 passengers and one driver on board when it crashed between the villages of Susch and Zernez in eastern Switzerland on Thursday afternoon, broadcaster NOS reported.

Swiss police confirmed earlier this morning that several people died and more were injured, but had to notify the next of kin before making any public announcement. Emergency services spent the evening recovering the bodies.

Swiss president Guy Parmelin said on social media he was “deeply shocked and dismayed” by the accident. “At this painful time, my thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones. I offer my sincere condolences to the families of those who lost their lives,” he said.

Dutch travel company Oad organised the trip, and the bus is owned by Hartemink, a coach firm from Eibergen in Gelderland. The group was on a tour of Austria and had taken a day trip to Switzerland. Swiss authorities have said they believe most, if not all, of the passengers are Dutch.

The cause of the accident is also not known. Swiss police told local media that no other vehicles were involved and that the crash happened at a stretch of roadworks where the lanes had been narrowed. The bus went through the crash barrier and overturned.

Local police have opened an emergency number for anyone who may have family on board: +41 81 256 56 56.