Coach crashes off road in Graubünden: several dead and injured

A coach went off the road on Thursday afternoon, at around 4.45pm, on the road between Zernez and Susch, in the Engadine, in the canton of Graubünden, near the Swiss National Park. The vehicle hit the guardrail and left the roadway. Graubünden cantonal police said on their X account that several people died in the crash and that there are also numerous injured. The exact number of victims has not yet been made known. The exact circumstances of the accident, that is, what caused the coach to leave the road, are also still unclear; authorities said further information would be released in the coming hours.

Photos published by the news site "Blick" show the coach, with Dutch number plates, overturned on its side in a field beside the road. Five helicopters were deployed at the scene, along with firefighters and several ambulances. According to the Romansh broadcaster RTR, rescuers had already left the area by around 8.30pm.

A group of Dutch tourists

The coach was carrying a Dutch tour group. A spokesperson for ANVR, the umbrella organisation for the Dutch tourism sector, told "Blick" that the group consisted of 48 people who had set off on Monday, and said she was "profondamente addolorata" (deeply saddened) by what had happened. The trip's main destination was Austria; the stop in Graubünden was planned as a day excursion.

Graubünden police spokesperson Roman Rüegg confirmed to SRF that most, if not all, of the passengers are Dutch nationals.

Graubünden police have set up a telephone hotline for relatives of those involved and for consulates, on the number 081 256 56 56.

Swiss Confederation President Guy Parmelin wrote on X that he was "profondamente colpito" (deeply affected) by the "tragico incidente" (tragic accident), sending his thoughts to the victims and their families and thanking all the rescuers involved.