At 7:30 p.m., the Pyrénées-Orientales prefecture announced that three deaths had been reported.
The toll continues to rise on route 320, in the town of Porté-Puymorens, where a bus accident left several dead and injured.
At 7:30 p.m., the Pyrénées-Orientales prefecture announced that three deaths had been reported, eight injuries were in absolute emergency and seven others were in relative emergency. A child would be one of these victims.
According to the prefecture and firefighters, “the injured were evacuated to the nearest hospital centers” and a psychological unit was activated to “support the victims and their families”.
120 firefighters mobilized
Significant resources were mobilized on site. In all, 120 firefighters came for some of the neighboring departments from Ariège and Aude, even from Spain or the principality of Andorra.
Civil security helicopters from Pyrénées-Orientales, Aude and Hérault are mobilized. The gendarmerie is also massively present. 18 soldiers from Prades, 5 bikers, 3 reinforcements from the high mountain gendarmerie platoon, 2 personnel from the criminal identification unit and two helicopters of Haute-Garonne and Ariège are sent to the scene of the accident.
An investigation was opened to determine the exact causes of the accident.
The concerned political class
On his X account, the Minister of Transport, François Durovray, sent his thoughts “to the families of the victims and to all the injured”.
A serious bus accident that occurred today in Porté-Puymorens, coming from Andorra and in transit through France before reaching Spain, cost the lives of two people. The provisional report also shows 7 injured in absolute emergency and 7 in relative emergency… https://t.co/l9dHllN8kL
— François Durovray (@durovray) https://twitter.com/durovray/status/1863291938729824689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Welcoming “the commitment of the emergency services, security, and local authorities in the face of this dramatic situation”, the one who is keen to ensure “safety on our roads” declared following “the situation up close”.
For her part, the president of the Occitanie region, Carole Delga, said she was “deeply touched by this tragic accident in the Pyrénées-Orientales”.
Deeply touched by this tragic accident in the Pyrénées-Orientales.
I send my support to the rescue and security forces mobilized and I think of the families and loved ones of the victims who are going through this terrible ordeal. https://t.co/1D9wzIydhp— Carole Delga (@CaroleDelga) https://twitter.com/CaroleDelga/status/1863306646019047790?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
On the other side of the border, emotions remain strong. On his X account, Salvador Illa Roca, the president of the Generality of Catalonia, follows “with great concern” the accident of the bus which was transporting Colombian travelers.
Following with great concern the accident of a bus of passengers mostly from L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, in Porté-Puymorens.
All our condolences and warmth to the families of the victims. The Government is at the disposal of the affected people and their families.
My…
— Salvador Illa Roca (@salvadorilla) https://twitter.com/salvadorilla/status/1863313004353519857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Addressing his “condolences to the families of the victims”, Salvador Illa Roca indicated that the Government remained available to the victims to support them in this tragic event.
