AT least three passengers have reportedly been killed after a packed bus plunged into a lake in Norway.
The bus was said to be carrying 58 passengers – including “many foreign nationals” – when it skidded off a main road during bad weather.
The vehicle was travelling on the E10 in Hadsel in Nordland county when it crashed through a barrier and into a lake.
There had been reports of heavy snow drifts and strong winds in the area.
Bent Are Eilertsen from Nordland Police said three people have been confirmed dead so far and at least four are seriously injured.
Many passengers are foreign nationals, according to local reports.
Martin Reberg, general manager of Boreal Buss AS – a Norwegian bus company – confirmed the crash involved one of their vehicles, VG reports.
It was on a trip from Narvik to Lofoten.
Rescue leader Ørjan Delbekk told VG the bus is partially underwater and the extent of the damage is not yet clear.
He said a large rescue operation is underway – with helicopters sent from nearby cities and volunteers from the Red Cross.
Eilertsen said some of the passengers had been evacuated to a nearby school.
Randi Angelsen, Nordland’s Communications manager, told VG: “Additional resources including personnel, ambulances, helicopters and aircraft resources have been called in to transport injured people to the hospital.”
Martin Reberg, general manager of Boreal Buss AS, said: “This is a serious incident, and we have set up a crisis team in Boreal.
“We are cooperating with the emergency services and of course assisting with all the resources we can.”
A photojournalist who reached the scene told the media outlet: It appears that the bus has driven through the guardrail and down the slope to Åsvatnet.
“There was a very strong wind and dense snow drifts when I arrived at the scene.”
A local resident of the area added: “There were a lot of emergency services, panic and chaos at the scene.
“There were lots of cars there. People stopped and let people into the cars so they could warm up.”
