Kathmandu— At least twelve people were killed and ten others seriously injured when a bus carrying Polish tourists crashed on the M3 motorway near Mezokeresztes, Hungary on Sunday. The bus, traveling from Serbia to Poland with 57 passengers and two drivers, veered off the road into a ditch and overturned approximately 140 kilometers east of Budapest. Eleven people died at the scene, while another succumbed to their injuries in hospital; thirty-seven others sustained minor injuries.

Crash Details

The accident occurred on the M3 motorway near Mezokeresztes, a town located in eastern Hungary. According to police reports, the bus left the roadway and overturned. Rescue workers were forced to extract some passengers through windows due to being trapped inside the vehicle. Preliminary investigations suggest driver fatigue may have been a contributing factor, leading to the driver’s immediate detention.

Official Reactions

Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and extended gratitude to the emergency responders involved in the rescue efforts. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski confirmed that consular services were activated and maintained contact with Hungarian authorities, promising verified information would be released. Polish President Karol Nawrocki stated he received the news “with deep sorrow,” acknowledging the significant loss of Polish citizens.

Deadliest Accident in Two Decades

This incident marks Hungary’s deadliest road accident since 2003, when a train collided with a German tourist bus in Siofok, resulting in thirty-three fatalities. The scale of this recent crash has prompted immediate investigation and response from both Hungarian and Polish officials.

Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crash and provide assistance to those affected. Further updates are expected as more information becomes available.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.