Biodun.BBC: BREAKING: Madeira crash: At least 28 killed on tourist bus near Caniço

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Media captionThe bus plunged off a road and overturned near houses

by Elodie Bagnol and Biodun Iginla, BBC News, Madeira, Portugal

At least 28 people have died after a bus carrying German tourists plunged off a road and overturned on the Portuguese island of Madeira.

Another 28 were injured in the accident near the town of Caniço, according to national news agency Lusa.

The accident happened at 18:30 (17:30 GMT) when the driver lost control of the bus at a junction and went off the road, reports said.

Portuguese media showed the overturned vehicle had come to rest near houses.

"I have no words to describe what happened. I cannot face the suffering of these people," local Mayor Filipe Sousa told broadcaster SIC TV.

He said all the tourists on the bus were German but some local people could also be among the casualties. Eleven of the fatalities were men and 17 women, Mr Sousa added. The bus was reported to be carrying 55 people.

Firemen stand next to the wreckage of a tourist bus that crashed in Madeira on April 17, 2019 — Image captionThe bus appeared to have rolled down a hillside

A woman receives medical treatment on April 17, 2019 in Caniço, on the Portuguese island of Madeira — Image captionAmbulances ferried the injured to hospital

The scene of the crash has been sealed off and the injured transferred to a hospital in the island's capital, Funchal, Lusa said. An investigation into the crash has been launched.

Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa is flying to the island to visit the scene, the agency said.

Prime Minister Antonio Costa has sent a message of condolence to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Reuters reported.