Tourists among 31 dead in bus-train crash
At least 31 people were killed today when a double-decker bus carrying German tourists was hit by a train at a crossing near the Hungarian resort of Lake Balaton.
The dead were all on the bus, said officials.
The accident occurred near the town of Siofok, one of the most popular resorts on the lake, 60 miles southwest of Budapest.
Tibor Dobson, spokesman for the National Catastrophe Directorate, said 31 people were killed and at least 12 were injured in the accident. He said no one suffered any serious injuries on the passenger train.
Pal Gyorfi, a spokesman for the National Rescue Service, said it was too early to give any more details about the bus: “The wreckage is too deformed.”
Lake Balaton draws large numbers of tourists every year, and is especially popular with Germans.
Police spokesman Laszlo Gelencser said it appeared the bus had tried to cross the railway line despite hazard lights warning of an oncoming train.
The bus was dragged 150 yards down the track and torn in half by the impact.
A team of 30 ambulances and four emergency service helicopters ferried the injured to nearby hospitals.
