A tourist coach packed with children has plunged off a mountain road near a popular national park Spain, injuring 19 people.
The horrifying accident happened as the vehicle was on its way to the popular tourist attraction in the northern region of Asturias on Monday afternoon.
The bus, which was carrying 48 passengers, had just left Covadonga heading for Los Lagos when it overturned and fell off a cliff en route to Picos de Europa National Park.
The accident happened after the coach had passed the La Reina viewpoint.
A taxi driver who was traveling to the nature beauty spot spotted the overturned coach and quickly raised the alarm.
Ten people were taken to hospital, seven of which had serious injuries, according to a police spokesperson.
Four of the wounded passengers were transported by fire brigade and Civil Guard helicopters to the Central University Hospital of Asturias, in Oviedo, and the Arriondas Hospital, local media has reported.
Footage of the scene shared by the Spanish Civil Guard on social media shows the overturned bus on its side.
Several passengers are also seen being carried on stretchers into waiting ambulances.
On Monday, firefighters were working at the site of the accident in Cangas de Onis, according to a statement from the emergency service.
This statement added that two witnesses had said the bus rolled over twice and landed on its side, the statement added. The cause of the accident remains unclear.
Cuesta Mirayes told El Comercio: “People were screaming a lot. They didn’t know what had happened. I don’t know what went wrong, but the driver is a great person.”
Asla, the company that owns the coach, said in a statement the driver of the vehicle has been making the same journey for 18 years.
It added only “the most experienced drivers” who also have “specific training in driving on high mountain roads” are chosen for the route.
Adrian Barbon, the local principality’s president, warned “it could have been a real tragedy.”
He tweeted: “All the necessary means have been deployed to deal with the accident of a bus going up to Los Lagos, which has left the road, rolling down the hillside.
“At this time, health professionals are triaging to determine the situation of travelers, including many children.”
