SWITZERLAND: Bereaved families of the children who died in a bus crash, visit the site of the accident. Twenty-two children around the age of 12 perished in the crash
Record ID:
382820
SWITZERLAND: Bereaved families of the children who died in a bus crash, visit the site of the accident. Twenty-two children around the age of 12 perished in the crash
- Title: SWITZERLAND: Bereaved families of the children who died in a bus crash, visit the site of the accident. Twenty-two children around the age of 12 perished in the crash
- Date: 16th March 2012
- Summary: GIRL HOLDING FLOWER INSIDE BUS
- Embargoed: 31st March 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Switzerland, Switzerland
- Country: Switzerland
- Topics: Accidents
- Reuters ID: LVA6W085EUHSQ8XWHXWTT4RFTD40
- Story Text: Bereaved relatives visited the site of a fatal bus crash in Switzerland on Thursday (March 15), where 22 children and six others were killed.
The bus had been carrying a Belgian school group home from a ski trip. It crashed into a wall in a tunnel. It had travelled only 15-20 km from the Swiss ski resort of Val d'Anniviers before entering the tunnel.
Families of the victims were taken from their hotel in Uvrier where they are staying to the site of the crash. Dazed family members were seen getting onto a bus that would take them to the tunnel. Some carried flowers to lay at the site of the tragedy.
Twenty-one of the dead were Belgian nationals and seven were Dutch, according to Swiss officials. The Dutch Foreign Ministry said three Dutch children in the bus were injured. Most children aboard were aged about 12.
Belgium plans to hold a national day of mourning. A memorial mass was set for Thursday in the Swiss town of Sierre.
It was the worst accident in Switzerland since 1982, when 39 German tourists were killed on a railway crossing after a train hit their bus. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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- Usage Terms/Restrictions: Footage contains identifiable children: users must ensure that they comply with local laws and regulations governing the publishing of this material.