At least 28 people have died, 22 of them children, after a bus carrying Belgian children crashed in a Swiss tunnel, police confirmed on Wednesday.
Distraught parents are due to meet outside the Sint Lambertus school today, to comfort one another and wait to hear more details. The parents of the victims will travel on to Switzerland later on Wednesday.
She was quoted by the Lesoir newspaper as telling her Dad “It was very dark, and I heard a huge shock. All the seats went flying and I found myself between two seats.”
Belgian police spokesperson Marc Vranckx said: "Some parents know their kids have survived. For others there is no news."
Valais police spokesman Jean-Marie Bornet said 52 people were on the bus carrying students home from a skiing trip crashed into the wall of a tunnel. A further 24 children were injured in the crash and taken to hospital.
The schoolkids had written a blog about their holiday where they talked about the "great time" they were having skiing and how much they were "looking forward to getting home."
People outside the Sint Lambertus school
Police said the bus, which was carrying 52 people in total, crashed around 9pm local time on Tuesday in a tunnel at Sierre.
According to local reports, the bus swerved, hit a curb and then crashed into a concrete wall inside the tunnel.
"It is incomprehensible. There were three buses and only one was in an accident, without any contact with another vehicle."
Rescue workers stand near debris of a crashed tourist bus
The Belgian prime minister said it was a "tragic day" for his country. "First thoughts go to the victims, to the members of their family and their loved ones."
Belgium's ambassador to Switzerland Jan Luykx also expressed his sympathies saying the tragedy will "hit the whole of Belgium."
"The magnitude of the accident is difficult to take in. For the moment I am concentrating on the practical aspects. The emotional side will come when we meet the families."
A spokesperson for the Swiss government said a crisis centre has been set up and an emergency number provided for families.
An investigation is now under way.
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At least 28 people have died, 22 of them children, after a bus carrying Belgian children crashed in a Swiss tunnel, police confirmed on Wednesday.
Distraught parents are due to meet outside the Sin...
At least 28 people have died, 22 of them children, after a bus carrying Belgian children crashed in a Swiss tunnel, police confirmed on Wednesday.
Distraught parents are due to meet outside the Sin...
If only we could go back to the horse and buggy days. I bet we would all be happier, a little poorer but much happier, and the air would be clean. What have we done to ourselves in the pursuit of progress, always in a rush to get somewhere, be on time, make a few extra dollars? These things will happen again and again.
Pazzuzu: If only we could go back to the horse and
This accident show how hopeless is the mankind and our gov. The whole capital and technology of our world cannot bring back even one of these childrens.
masisinfo: This accident show how hopeless is the mankind and our
Absolutely tragic. On a par with Aberfan. I saw that and this must be as bad. Words cannot cope. I think of all those who died and their relatives and those that survived. All need our thoughts and prayers whatever the religion. God bless them.
dalejohno: Absolutely tragic. On a par with Aberfan. I saw that
i have 3 grandchildren whom i love dearly ,i know its not the same but if anything happened to them i would be devasted, as a bus driver myself i am constantly watching my side mirrors and the passenger mirror especialy with students my hert goes out to them i send my deepest love ,it is vey hard to say the right words as this will not help
barclays: i have 3 grandchildren whom i love dearly ,i know
having drove trucks through tunnells it is frighting going through the gothard tunnel in swiss you aproach each other at 100 mph ( 50 mph each ) do not put your hand out the window you will lose it it is that tight i was allways glad when i got out of it
there is speed limits for trucks and coaches trucks 56 mph coaches 70 mph eec limits in france in1983 there was a coach crash at BAUNE 44 children killed within two weeks the french over ruled the eec limits and brought there own in 100 kmh 62 mph
yes there should be moor control in tunnels after the mont blanc fire i was about two hours in front of this in 1999 there is strict speed limits ( which i think could be lower )and distance limits between vehicals with cameras in the tunnel if you have not kept to the rules when you get fined on the spot so please tighten up the rules and slow them down 40 mph is enough
barnstaplesquire: having drove trucks through tunnells it is frighting going through
words cannot describe how this has rocked the world..I cannot imagine how everyone effected by this tragedy will cope, but know that millions of people around the globe are thinking of you.. xxx
sally_darlow: words cannot describe how this has rocked the world..I cannot
When I heard this story break I felt sick to the pit of my stomach. It is the worst nightmare of every parent. A great many healthy children and people lost in a moment. My sincere condolances to a nation and parents in mourning. It may be again that human error played a big part in the accident and legislation on rest breaks for coach drivers must be better. A coach is a large scale killing machine and offers little if any safety for people travelling on one.
Katie_Wilkie: When I heard this story break I felt sick to
Sympathy to all involved, what I want to know is were they wearing seat belts although looking at the picture of the bus this may not have helped some of them but hopefully some of them, and I hope they find out what speed it was going. Many times have I been overtaken by a coach/bus on a motorway even when I had been doing 70mph. are they restricted to what speed they can do like HGV drivers
tanashdyam: Sympathy to all involved, what I want to know is
Another total tragedy.My heart goes out to all involved.How can something like this be justified by any faith?
The parents must been distraught and have my every sympathy..
MsBubblyBlonde: Another total tragedy.My heart goes out to all involved.How can
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The Huffington Post UK Lucy Sherriff First Posted: 14/03/2012 06:23 Updated: 14/03/2012 12:00