AUSTRIA: Five people were killed yesterday when a tourist bus in Austria carrying 42 Britons plunged down a steep embankment and crashed into a field.
Dozens more were injured as the vehicle fell nearly 100 feet, spinning over twice before it hit the ground, landing upside down.
Emergency services rushed to the scene and one air ambulance pilot described the aftermath as "like a war zone".
The accident happened around 4.30 p.m. near the town of Hallein and the injured were later taken for hospital treatment in Salzburg.
Aboard the coach were 46 tourists - 42 Britons, two Russians, one Australian and one German, according to local rescue officials. One said: "We know that there are more people seriously injured."
The passengers were on an excursion organised by UK tour operator Inghams, which has set up an emergency hotline for those who fear relatives may be involved.
Inghams later released a statement saying the passengers had been staying at the lake resorts of St Wolfgang, Traunkirchen and Fuschl and had been on an excursion to Berchtesgaden.
The statement said: "Our thoughts are with those who have been involved in the accident and their relatives.
"Naturally, the names of any injured parties will not be released until all next of kin have been notified."
A doctor who treated several of the injured at one of the local hospitals said there were people of all ages involved.
Dr Nicholas Mates told Sky News that 17 British people were being treated at his hospital, including two children. "Most of injured were searching for relatives - their main concern was to find them," he said.
Dr Mates added that seatbelts were not normally used with the type of coach involved.
Inghams has sent senior managers to the crash scene.