Two individuals have lost their lives and over 30 others sustained injuries following the crash of their coach on a winding road in the Pyrenees in southern France.
A total of 47 passengers, along with the driver, were aboard when the incident transpired on Sunday at 5pm close to the ski resort of Porte-Puymorens, as noted by the regional authorities.
The coach struck a cliff on the serpentine N320 roadway in the Pyrenees-Orientales region, which shares a border with Spain and Andorra.
Local officials reported that 10 individuals were critically injured, while another 32 experienced non-life-threatening injuries.
The coach collided with the edge of a steep cliff on the N320 route, near Porte-Puymorens. Pic: Anthony Cirera/@SDIS66/X
The injured passengers were transported to hospitals in Perpignan, Toulouse, Foix, and Puigcerda in Spain, according to an official announcement.
The rescue operation utilized over 170 personnel, including teams from neighbouring Catalonia in Spain and Andorra.
Among them were 133 firefighters and 40 soldiers from the National Gendarmerie.
A minimum of five helicopters were also deployed during the emergency response.
Over 130 firefighters responded to the incident, including teams from Andorra and Catalonia in Spain. Pic: Anthony Cirera/@SDIS66/X
A minimum of five helicopters participated in the rescue mission overnight. Pic: Anthony Cirera/@SDIS66/X
Photos released by local firefighters depicted the bus wedged against the cliffside.
The right side appeared to be significantly damaged and the windshield was shattered.
The investigation into the cause of the collision remains ongoing.
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François Durovray, the Transport Minister of France, expressed his sympathies to all affected by what he described as a “serious bus incident”.
“My thoughts are with the families of the deceased and all those who were injured,” he posted on X.
He further noted that the coach was en route from Andorra through France and heading towards Spain.
The emergency services in Catalonia stated on X that the bus originated in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, located just outside Barcelona.
