5 killed, 3 critically injured in Dutch bus crash in Switzerland; 37 others also hurt

Five people were killed and 40 injured in a serious accident involving a Dutch tour bus in Switzerland on Thursday. Among the injured are three people in critical condition, seven with moderate injuries, and 30 with minor injuries, the canton police of Graubünden reported on Friday. Dutch embassy staff are in the area to provide assistance.

The bus was travelling from the village of Zernez towards Susch in eastern Switzerland when it crashed at 4:45 p.m. on Thursday. According to the police, it went off the road in a construction zone and ended up on its side.

The police reported that there were 45 people on board the bus - 44 adult passengers and the bus driver. Previous reports said 49 people were on board.

The victims were transported to various hospitals in the region by seven rescue helicopters and 13 ambulance crews. The cause of the accident is under investigation.

The incident involved a bus trip organized by the Dutch company Oad. Spokesperson Hanita van der Meer of ANVR, the association for travel agencies in the Netherlands, told NOS that the group was on a bus excursion to Austria. The tour group had set off on Monday and was on a day trip to Switzerland.

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima have expressed their condolences to everyone affected by the accident. “Our hearts go out to the bereaved, to everyone currently fearing for the fate of their loved ones, and to the injured. We stand with you in this great tragedy,” they said in a statement released on their social media channels.