10 killed, 33 injured as bus crashes into a ravine in Portugal

At least 10 people have died and 33 were injured on Sunday morning in a bus accident in central Portugal. In rainy weather, the bus fell into a ravine in the town of Sertã, in the central region of Castelo Branco.

The National Civil Protection Authority advises that the bus, owned by a Badajoz, Spain bus company, was carrying passengers on a tour between Badajoz and Santa Maria da Feira, when it apparently deviated from the road at around 8:45 am GMT. The condition of the victims and the exact circumstances of the accident are not yet known. At least 15 of the injured have been transferred to hospitals in Coimbra and Castelo Branco, and a field hospital has been set up to evaluate the victims. 250 firefighters remain at the scene, endeavoring to rescue victims who are still trapped inside the vehicle. 88 emergency vehicles and a helicopter are assisting in rescue operations. The firefighters have requested the help of cranes in the operation, and local police have installed a security device on the highway to help ambulances arrive at the scene of the accident.