Major incident declared after 'school bus' carrying 70 passengers crashes in Northern Ireland
7 October 2024, 17:02 | Updated: 7 October 2024, 18:16
The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service is dealing with a "major incident" after a school bus with dozens on board overturned in County Down.
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The incident happened on Ballyblack Road East on Monday afternoon and is believed to have involved a school bus.
The NIAS said "43 school children on the bus +1 driver" are injured, four of those will "require hospital treatment".
However, they are not understood to be seriously injured.
Some of the other passengers sustained minor injuries but are all expected to be discharged at the scene.
A NIAS spokesperson said: "Following a road traffic incident this afternoon in the Carrowdore area, the Northern Ireland Ambulance declared a major incident, based on the number of resources required to attend the incident.
"Initial reports indicated that approximately 70 people were on board the bus. This figure has been revised to 43 and a driver.
"NIAS has assessed and treated patients at the scene, with four currently requiring further treatment at hospital."
A specialist rescue team is on the scene, including five fire appliances, the service confirmed.
5 Fire Appliances & the Specialist Rescue Team are currently at the scene of a road traffic collision involving an overturned bus on the Ballyblack Road East, Newtownards.
— Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (@NIFRSOFFICIAL) October 7, 2024
Motorists are advised to avoid the area.
More details to follow. pic.twitter.com/0oRdGpRDv0
The school bus was transporting students from Strangford College to Newtownards at the time of the crash, the Belfast Telegraph reports.
One witness told the publication it looked “like a battlefield” and said parents of uninjured children have already been contacted.
Pictures on social media show the vehicle on its side in a field having left the road.
Police have advised drivers to avoid the road and find an "alternate" route.
"Motorists are advised to avoid the Ballyblack Road East in Newtownards, as police and colleagues from the emergency services are currently at the scene of a one vehicle road traffic collision," a statement said.
"There are diversions in place."Please seek an alternative route for your journey."
Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said on social media he was "deeply concerned" and his "thoughts and prayers" were with the people involved, their families and emergency services.
DUP MP for Strangford, Jim Shannon said: "Our thanks go to the police service, the NIFRS, the ambulance service, as well as the air ambulance.
"We are unsure of the scale, however the fear is palpable," he added.
"Thoughts and prayers will be with parents and children during this uncertainty."
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