Two people killed as bus crashes on way to Oktoberfest

Two people were killed and numerous others injured when a bus carrying Filipino tourists overturned in southern Germany on Sunday, on its way to Munich Oktoberfest. The bus, which originated from Milan, Italy, with a notable Filipino population, was en route to the festival when the accident occurred at 5:41 a.m. local time (03:41 a.m. GMT).

The vehicle left the side of the A96 highway and flipped over; there were no other vehicles involved. Six of the injured were swiftly airlifted to nearby hospitals, with one reportedly still in life-threatening condition. Two additional individuals were transported by ambulance, while the remaining 22 were initially treated at the scene before being transferred to the hospital.

Authorities have identified one of the deceased as a 58-year-old Filipino citizen. Police spokespersons emphasized the chaotic initial aftermath, highlighting the difficulty in establishing the facts, including the total number of people onboard the bus. Two Italian bus drivers, who were not hurt, were also on board. The driver at the wheel during the crash is being investigated for negligent homicide, a routine procedure.

The cause of the accident remains unknown, pending an investigation by a public prosecutor's office. Over 200 firefighters, medics, and police rushed to the scene, where a section of the highway remained blocked for some time before traffic resumed in the afternoon. Bus accidents have been occurring frequently recently, with a Dutch coach crash in Switzerland killing five and a bus crash on Germany's A3 highway leaving 30 people injured.

Munich's Oktoberfest, the world's largest beer festival, typically attracts millions of visitors each year, with this year's event running from September 19 to October 4. As of the halfway point, approximately 3.8 million people had already visited the festival, a 300,000 increase from the corresponding period last year. Organizers noted the festival's success, with more than 200 personnel mobilized to manage the aftermath of the bus crash.