Official reports from Norwegian authorities or major news outlets

Bus Carrying Foreign Tourists Crashes Into Lake in Northern Norway; At Least Three Dead

Dec 26, 2024, 03:45 PM

A bus carrying between 58 and 70 passengers in northern Norway veered off the E10 Lofast road and plunged into a lake on Thursday, resulting in at least three deaths and four serious injuries, according to local authorities. The accident occurred in Hadsel municipality, approximately 19 miles southwest of Svolvær in the Lofoten region, near the Arctic Circle. The bus ended up partially submerged under snowy conditions, prompting a major rescue operation. The police described the incident as a 'serious accident.' Many of the passengers were foreign nationals, including Chinese tourists, with the Chinese Embassy confirming that 15 Chinese citizens were on board, five of whom sustained minor injuries. Local hospitals activated disaster protocols to handle the influx of casualties.