In brief
Late Thursday afternoon, a Dutch tourist coach collided with a safety barrier on a road under construction between Susch and Zernez in Graubünden, Switzerland. The vehicle veered off and overturned, killing five passengers and leaving about 40 others with varying injuries. Swiss police have not yet identified the deceased, while the injured have been transported to hospitals in nearby towns. Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten and Dutch royal family have expressed condolences, and Swiss President Guy Parmelin urged public condolences. The incident is under investigation by Graubünden prosecutors and police, with seven helicopters from Switzerland and Austria aiding rescue operations.
A tourist coach crashed between Susch and Zernez in the southern Swiss Alps, leaving five people dead and around 40 others wounded, Swiss police confirmed on Friday.
The vehicle, carrying primarily Dutch nationals, struck a safety barrier in a roadworks zone, left the road, and overturned. Helicopters from Switzerland and Austria were dispatched to the site, and ambulance crews reached casualties on the spot.
The identities of the deceased are still unknown, and police are investigating the circumstances that led to the crash. Three of the injured are reported to have serious wounds.
The coach had departed from the Netherlands on Monday and was on a day trip to Switzerland from Austria at the time of the accident. Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten and the Dutch royal family expressed condolences, while Swiss President Guy Parmelin called the incident “deeply shocking” and offered sincere sympathy to the victims’ families.
Rescue teams, including fire departments and the Plaiv road rescue service, were involved on the scene. The crash occurred in a region that serves as the entry point to the Swiss National Park, a 100‑square‑kilometre Alpine reserve in the Engadine valley.
