Three dead as bus skids off icy road and crashes into Norwegian lake
Three people have died and four others were injured after a bus carrying foreign tourists plunged into a lake in Norway on Boxing Day.
The vehicle, which was carrying 58 passengers, veered off the road and ended up partially submerged in water near the Raftsundet strait, which separates the Lofoten archipelago from the Norwegian mainland.
The accident occurred around 1.30 pm local time (12.30 GMT) in the Hadsel district on Norway’s northwestern coast near the Åsvatnet lake.
Emergency services rushed to the scene, with rescue helicopters and Red Cross volunteers deployed to assist in the operation.
Nordland Hospital declared an emergency and established a disaster team in response to the incident. The area was experiencing severe weather conditions at the time, with heavy snowdrifts and strong winds reported.
Police confirmed that many of the passengers were foreign nationals, with tourists from eight different countries on board.
The passengers included visitors from China, France, India, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Norway, Singapore and South Sudan.
The Lofoten archipelago, where the incident occurred, is a popular winter destination for tourists hoping to witness the northern lights.
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Public broadcaster NRK reported that the bus had been travelling from the town of Narvik to the Lofoten archipelago.
The mayor of the nearby Vågan district, Vidar Thom Benjaminsen, said a “crisis team” had been set up, and that a local hotel had been allocated for family members and as a reception centre.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said the crash was “a very serious situation” and that his thoughts were with everyone affected.
“Many of the passengers on the bus were foreign nationals,” police said in a statement, noting that a total of 58 people were impacted by the incident.
“The priority now is to treat the injured and an investigation will be launched to clarify what transpired,” said Nordland police officer Bent Are Eilertsen.
Additional resources were mobilised to support the rescue operation.
“Extra resources called in, personnel, ambulances, helicopter and aircraft resources to transport the injured to hospital,” Nordland Hospital confirmed on its website.