Ski bus tragedy in Alps kills 22 young students from Belgium
Source: Agencies |
March 15, 2012, Thursday
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A tour bus slammed into a tunnel wall in the Swiss Alps on Tuesday night in a horrific accident that killed 22 Belgian 12-year-old students returning from a joyous ski vacation as well as the six adults who were accompanying them.
Another 24 students were hospitalized, Valais cantonal (state) police spokesman Jean-Marie Bornet said yesterday.
The bus carrying 52 people, including young students from two different Belgian schools, hit the tunnel wall shortly after 9pm local time on Tuesday on the A9 highway near Sierre, Switzerland, in the southern canton of Valais, an area of popular ski resorts.
Authorities were still identifying all the victims, said Didier Reynders, the Belgian foreign minister. It was unclear exactly how the accident happened, he said.
"It is incomprehensible," Reynders said.
Belgian Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo called it "an extremely sad day for all of Belgium." He arrived in Sion, Switzerland yesterday afternoon and the Belgian government was arranging planes to fly parents and relatives to the site, as well.
Police said the students had spent the last few days at a ski camp and were on their way back to Belgium. While they were there, students at one school kept a blog that brimmed with enthusiasm.
"Today was totally the best," one girl wrote. "The adventurous walk was tiring but mega-cool. We won first prize for cleanest room. Tomorrow it's going to be colder. Byyyeeee!"
The bus was carrying students from two towns - Lommel and Heverlee. In the tunnel, it veered, hit a curb, then rammed into a concrete wall, police said. The front of the bus was heavily damaged and appeared to be wedged against the wall, blocking people from getting out.
"The bus hit the barrier stones on the right side of the road. It then hit the tunnel wall front-on in an emergency stop space," police said. "Because of the strong impact the bus was badly damaged and several passengers were trapped in the wreckage."
Valais police chief Christian Varone told a news conference that rescuers were greeted by "a scene like a war."
"We have had a number of serious accidents in Valais but nothing like this, with so many young victims," he said.
Initial indications are that no other vehicles were involved in the crash, which occurred in a stretch of tunnel where the speed limit was 100 kilometers per hour.
"We will examine everyone to find out what happened," said Valais prosecutor Olivier Elsig.
The highway was closed in both directions to aid in the rescue. Eight helicopters and a dozen ambulances took victims to hospitals. Dozens of firefighters and police, 15 doctors and three psychologists were called to the scene.
Another 24 students were hospitalized, Valais cantonal (state) police spokesman Jean-Marie Bornet said yesterday.
The bus carrying 52 people, including young students from two different Belgian schools, hit the tunnel wall shortly after 9pm local time on Tuesday on the A9 highway near Sierre, Switzerland, in the southern canton of Valais, an area of popular ski resorts.
Authorities were still identifying all the victims, said Didier Reynders, the Belgian foreign minister. It was unclear exactly how the accident happened, he said.
"It is incomprehensible," Reynders said.
Belgian Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo called it "an extremely sad day for all of Belgium." He arrived in Sion, Switzerland yesterday afternoon and the Belgian government was arranging planes to fly parents and relatives to the site, as well.
Police said the students had spent the last few days at a ski camp and were on their way back to Belgium. While they were there, students at one school kept a blog that brimmed with enthusiasm.
"Today was totally the best," one girl wrote. "The adventurous walk was tiring but mega-cool. We won first prize for cleanest room. Tomorrow it's going to be colder. Byyyeeee!"
The bus was carrying students from two towns - Lommel and Heverlee. In the tunnel, it veered, hit a curb, then rammed into a concrete wall, police said. The front of the bus was heavily damaged and appeared to be wedged against the wall, blocking people from getting out.
"The bus hit the barrier stones on the right side of the road. It then hit the tunnel wall front-on in an emergency stop space," police said. "Because of the strong impact the bus was badly damaged and several passengers were trapped in the wreckage."
Valais police chief Christian Varone told a news conference that rescuers were greeted by "a scene like a war."
"We have had a number of serious accidents in Valais but nothing like this, with so many young victims," he said.
Initial indications are that no other vehicles were involved in the crash, which occurred in a stretch of tunnel where the speed limit was 100 kilometers per hour.
"We will examine everyone to find out what happened," said Valais prosecutor Olivier Elsig.
The highway was closed in both directions to aid in the rescue. Eight helicopters and a dozen ambulances took victims to hospitals. Dozens of firefighters and police, 15 doctors and three psychologists were called to the scene.
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