Twelve people have died and dozens more were injured after a tourist bus crashed in Hungary. The bus, from Poland, crashed on the M3 motorway 87 miles east of Budapest at around 1am on Sunday. Police say the collision likely took place after the driver fell asleep.
Crash details and rescue effort
The vehicle had been travelling eastbound near the town of Mezokeresztes when it overturned. Emergency services tried to lift the rear axle of the 24-tonne bus to remove passengers trapped underneath before cranes arrived to move the whole vehicle, according to local reports.
The driver has since been taken into custody. A total of 35 people were rescued from the coach, however, it is understood there were others who were trapped underneath.
Official statements and casualties
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar confirmed that at least 12 people had died in the accident. As reported in the Mirror, he offered his condolences to the families of the victims and thanked rescue workers who were dispatched to the scene. He wrote: "12 people lost their lives and at least ten were seriously injured during the night, when a Polish coach overturned into a ditch on the M3 motorway."
There were 47 people travelling on the bus according to Hungarian Interior Minister Gábor Pósfai, with some of those people who had been rescued seriously injured. A statement from him read: "In the bus accident overnight on the M3 motorway, a bus with Polish license plate overturned. The police and firefighters went to the scene, as well as civilian assistance arrived to move the injured vehicle. According to current information in the accident, 12 people were killed. There were 47 people travelling on the bus, some of them were seriously injured. My sincere condolences to the families of the victims and thank you for the work of those involved in the rescue. The driver of the vehicle who suffered the accident has been taken into custody."
International response
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski wrote in a post on X that a "tragic bus accident involving Polish tourists" had occurred in Hungary and that his ministry was in contact with Hungarian authorities.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki expressed his "deep sorrow" over the accident. He said: "I join the families and loved ones of the victims in prayer and deep sympathy."
