Three people died and four others were injured in the accident of a bus carrying “many foreigners” which ended up in a lake on the northern coast of Norway, police announced Thursday.
“Many passengers on the bus are foreign nationals,” Nordland County police said. A total of 58 people were affected by the accident. There were passengers from at least eight different countries.
“The police operational center was alerted shortly after 1:30 p.m.” about a bus that had left the road in Hadsel, the police detailed in their press release.
Emergency services and police were dispatched to the scene, near the Raftsundet Strait, separating the Lofoten and Vesterålen archipelagos, and all passengers on the bus were evacuated, some to a nearby school. “Weather conditions in the area are poor, complicating rescue operations,” police said. Strong gusts are underway in the region.
Three people were transported by helicopter to Stokmarknes hospital, according to Nordland County police officer Bent Are Eilertsen, quoted by the NTB agency. “The priority now is to treat the injured, and an investigation will also be launched to clarify the course of events,” he said.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, quoted by Norwegian media, expressed support for those involved in the accident. Every year, Norway welcomes many tourists who come to observe its fjords, its midnight sun and its northern lights.
