Twelve people were killed and dozens more injured when a Polish tourist bus veered off a Hungarian motorway and overturned into a ditch early Sunday morning.
The crash occurred on the M3 motorway, which links Budapest with the north-eastern city of Nyíregyháza, at approximately 01:00 local time (23:00 GMT Saturday). Police said the bus left the roadway and came to rest in a ravine running alongside the highway.
Authorities believe the driver fell asleep at the wheel. He has been taken into custody as the investigation continues.
The vehicle was carrying 57 passengers and two drivers. Firefighters have rescued 35 people so far. Emergency crews worked for hours to lift the rear axle of the 24-tonne bus to reach those trapped underneath before heavy cranes arrived to upright the entire vehicle.
Hungary’s ambulance service reported treating one person with life-threatening injuries, nine with serious injuries, and 37 with minor injuries.
Prime Minister Péter Magyar offered his “sincere condolences” to the families of the victims and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
The M3 motorway is a major transport corridor in Hungary. The incident has drawn attention to road safety concerns on long-distance routes frequently used by international tour operators. Police have not released the nationalities of the victims, though the bus was registered in Poland.
Investigators are examining the vehicle’s condition, the driver’s work and rest schedule, and road conditions at the time of the crash. Further updates are expected as the rescue operation concludes and the formal inquiry advances.