Police say 5 dead, 40 injured in tour bus crash in eastern Switzerland

Five individuals lost their lives and numerous others sustained injuries following a tourist coach accident in the southeastern Swiss Alps, according to police reports. The Dutch tour bus collided with a safety barrier in a roadworks zone, veered off the road, and overturned between Susch and Zernez in Graubünden region on Thursday evening.

Swiss authorities stated on Friday that the deceased victims had not yet been identified. They further disclosed that the remaining 40 passengers, with injuries ranging from critical to minor, were airlifted to hospitals via rescue helicopters and ambulance services. The coach had departed from the Netherlands on Monday and was on a day trip from Austria when the mishap occurred.

Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten expressed his sympathies to all those involved, while King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima conveyed their deepest condolences to everyone affected by "this great tragedy". Swiss President Guy Parmelin conveyed his profound shock on X, offering his "sincere condolences" to the families of the victims.

Graubünden cantonal police confirmed three individuals were seriously injured in the incident, adding that seven helicopters from both Switzerland and Austria participated in the rescue operation, alongside fire departments and the Plaiv road rescue service. The Graubünden public prosecutor's office and police are currently investigating the factors that led to the crash.

Zernez serves as the entry point for visitors to the Swiss National Park, an expansive Alpine reserve covering over 100 square kilometers (40 square miles) in the mountainous Engadine valley.