Twelve people lost their lives in a tragic early‑morning crash on Hungary’s M3 motorway, when a Polish tourist bus veered off the road and plunged into a ditch.
The incident, which took place at roughly 01:00 local time (23:00 GMT), left the 24‑tonne vehicle overturned and severely damaged.
Police investigations suggest the driver may have fallen asleep at the wheel; he has been taken into custody and questioned.
Emergency services fought to rescue passengers, lifting the vehicle’s rear axle before cranes were able to lift the entire bus. Thirty‑five of the 57 passengers and two drivers were rescued so far.
Hungary’s ambulance service reports that one person received life‑threatening treatment, nine suffered serious injuries, and 37 incurred minor wounds.
Prime Minister Péter Magyar extended his sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
Officials have condemned the incident and urged motorists to remain vigilant, especially on long stretches of the M3 motorway connecting Budapest to Nyíregyháza.
