At least 29 people were killed in a tragic disaster on the Portuguese island of Madeira. Portugal’s President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said that according to his information, all deaths came from Germany.
The Federal Foreign Office has not confirmed this yet, but also expects German victims: „We were shocked to learn about the tragic bus accident on Madeira, but unfortunately we have to assume that victims are from Germany.“
The Foreign Office set up a crisis team. The German embassy is in close contact with the Portuguese authorities in Madeira, to clarify the identity of the victims and to assist the injured, tweeted the Foreign Relations Crisis Response Center. The crisis team is reported to reach 030-5000 3000, concerned members can contact under this number to the Foreign Office.
The driver apparently lost control of the bus
According to local civil protection, the accident took place around 6:30 pm in the municipality of Caniço, east of Funchal. The driver had apparently lost control of the bus in a turn, which then crashed down a hillside into a residential area. In Portuguese media is the speech of a technical problem – possibly the accelerator had clamped, reports ARD correspondent Sebastian Kisters.
In pictures you could see how the white coach was completely destroyed on the side and partially on a red tiled roof. The bus crashed on a house, there should have been no guard rails at the site.
At least 28 injured
A total of at least 28 people have been injured, including two Portuguese, it was said from the hospital in the capital Funchal, where they were treated. How many people were on board is still unclear. The news agency Lusa reported a total of 51 passengers. The driver and the tour guide should have survived injured.
Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa condoned Chancellor Angela Merkel. He was dismayed and sent his regrets to the Chancellor „at this difficult hour,“ tweeted Costa. „This is a moment of pain, but also of solidarity,“ said President de Sousa the news channel SIC Noticias. He wants to speak on Thursday with Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
„Sincere condolences“
A representative of the Portuguese Government condolated the German Ambassador to Portugal. The representative of Portugal for the Autonomous Region of Madeira, Ireneu Cabral Barreto, deeply regretted „the serious traffic accident“ and pronounced „sincere condolences“ to the families of the victims, the newspaper „Observador“ quoted him.
