Tragedy struck Thursday afternoon when a bus carrying 58 passengers veered off the road and plunged partially submerged in Åsvatnet, near Hadsel municipality, Norway. Reports confirm three people have died, and four others are critically injured, marking this incident as one of the most severe bus accidents to occur recently.
Emergency services received the first emergency call just after 1:30 PM local time. The bus, operated by Boreal Buss AS, was en route from Narvik to Lofoten when it lost control, driving through the guardrail and down the slope toward the icy waters of Åsvatnet. Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as first responders rushed to the site, battling strong winds and snow flurries.
By 3:58 PM, police confirmed the grim toll of the accident, highlighting the challenges due to the international nature of the victims. Bent Are Eilertsen, the Chief of Staff at Nordland Police, noted the predicament of working without passenger lists, complicated by the presence of many foreign nationals on board. "The emergency response on site is well-equipped with resources, and many foreign nationals are among the bus passengers," Eilertsen stated.
The gravity of the situation prompted Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre to express his condolences, stating, "We are standing this afternoon together with those affected by the serious bus accident in Hadsel. My thoughts are with all involved and affected." This sentiment echoed throughout the community as officials began mobilizing additional resources.
Local health services, including Nordlandsykehuset, declared disaster status, activating additional ambulances and medical personnel. "This is a serious incident, and we have activated our crisis management team. We are cooperating with emergency services and will assist with all available resources," said Martin Reberg, the director of Boreal Buss, confirming their commitment to support the victims.
Search and rescue operations commenced swiftly, deployed against harsh weather conditions, where rescue leader Ørjan Delebekk relayed the status of the bus, still partly submerged and under heavy scrutiny as to the total number of injuries. "The bus is partially submerged. The scope of injuries is still unclear, but rescue operations are underway," Delebekk confirmed.
Witnesses present at the scene have recounted scenes of panic and urgency. One resident, speaking about the chaotic atmosphere, described many emergency vehicles shown to be on-site, with helicopter support arriving to assist the rescue efforts. “There were many emergency vehicles and panicked reactions,” they noted.
The weather—a relentless downpour, wind gusts, and snow—presented significant hurdles. The local fire department, along with other rescue teams from areas nearby, coordinated to establish effective rescue operations. Hilfe (help) was summoned from Røde Kors who dispatched personnel and resources for the recovery operation.
Efforts to assist survivors continued late Thursday, as local officials established emergency shelters for those affected. Authorities set up receiving centers for family members anxious for news of loved ones. Such coordination was deemed necessary due to the diverse nationalities of the passengers concerned.
Currently, three fatalities are confirmed, with the investigation still examining the precise causes of the bus accident. Efforts remain focused on aiding the injured and supporting the families affected by the tragedy. "We have many resources on the way to the area, including fire services, emergency services, and rescue helicopters from Tromsø and Bodø," asserted Delebekk, reiterative of the entire community's response to this devastating accident.
The aftermath will certainly necessitate extensive discussions about road safety, particularly during severe weather conditions. Meanwhile, the local community has rallied together, offering support to families through established centers and capturing the urgency of the situation across local media.
With multiple agencies involved, including health responders, police, and municipal officials, all efforts are set toward ensuring the safety and recovery of those affected and to prevent such accidents from occurring again in the future.
