Swiss Alps Coach Crash Kills Multiple Dutch Passengers Near Sion
A coach carrying 48 Dutch passengers, including children, crashed in a tunnel in the Swiss Alps, killing multiple individuals and injuring many others. The incident took place late at night in the Sierre tunnel, near Sion in the canton of Valais, a popular destination for skiing holidays.
Swiss police confirmed that 24 children were among the casualties, with 28 people, including 22 children, suffering injuries requiring hospitalisation. Six of the injured are reported to be in a serious condition and were airlifted to hospitals in Lausanne and Berne.
The coach was travelling back to the Netherlands from a ski trip in Val d'Anniviers. It veered into a tunnel wall, with initial investigations focusing on the possibility of driver error. The Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, expressed shock at the tragedy, stating he had spoken with his Belgian counterpart due to the coach having departed from Lommel, Belgium.
Emergency services deployed a significant response to the scene, including 12 ambulances, eight helicopters, and over 200 rescue workers. The tunnel was closed following the crash as recovery and investigation efforts commenced. The precise cause of the collision remains under investigation.
