On Thursday morning, a bus carrying 58 people slid off the E10 highway in the Hadsel district of Lofoten, northwest Norway, and plunged into a lake, resulting in at least three deaths and four serious injuries.
The accident occurred around 13:30 local time in the Hadsel district on the northwest coast of Norway. Authorities stated in a press release that the bus veered off the road and partially submerged into Lake Åsvatnet.
Police indicated that there were a total of 58 people on the bus at the time of the incident, passengers coming from eight different countries including China, France, India, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, and South Sudan.
In addition to the fatalities, four people were seriously injured. Three of them have been airlifted to hospitals for treatment, while the other passengers were taken to a nearby school.
According to the Chinese Embassy in Norway, there were approximately 20 Chinese tourists on board, with five sustaining minor injuries. The embassy mentioned that they will continue to stay in touch with the Chinese tourists at the scene.
Lofoten Islands is a popular destination for witnessing the Northern Lights during the winter.
Local authorities expressed in a statement, “The severe weather conditions in the region have complicated rescue operations.”
The Norwegian Red Cross announced on social media that they are deploying teams to assist in handling the “serious bus accident” on the E10 highway.
Firefighters, ambulances, and police units are already working at the scene.
A “crisis response team” has been established locally, and a hotel has been assigned to accommodate the families of the victims and serve as a reception center.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre stated that the lake plunge incident is extremely serious, and he stands with all those affected by the tragedy.