Five killed in tourist bus crash in Switzerland

Five people were killed and dozens injured in a tourist bush crash near the alpine village of Susch in Switzerland's eastern canton of Graubünden, police said on Friday.

Local police said that emergency response teams had been dispatched to the site of the crash, which took place late Thursday afternoon.

Dutch media reported that the bus was carrying tourists from the Netherlands.

"These are Dutch customers of [Dutch tour operator] OAD. We cannot yet say how many people have been killed or injured," a spokeswoman for Dutch travel association ANVR told the newspaper De Telegraaf.

De Telegraaf reported that 48 people were aboard the bus. The number has not been confirmed by police.

What do we know about the crash?

Police have not yet shared details on what could have caused the crash.

"The Graubünden public prosecutor's office is clarifying together with the cantonal police the circumstances that led to the coach accident," a police statement said.

The crash occurred on the road between Susch and the nearby village of Zernez, where the bus collided with a guardrail around 4:45 p.m. local time (1445 UTC), according to Swiss broadcaster SRF.

Initial reports cited by Germany's DPA news agency indicate the coach hit a guardrail and veered off the road, overturned and came to rest on its side.

SRF reported that multiple helicopters were deployed as part of rescue operations.

Swiss President Guy Parmelin expressed his condolences in a post on X.

"I am deeply shocked and dismayed by today’s tragic accident involving a Dutch coach in Graubünden," he said. "I offer my sincere condolences to the families of those who lost their lives."

"The relevant Swiss authorities will ensure that a comprehensive and thorough investigation is carried out to establish all the circumstances surrounding this accident."