2 Pinoys killed, 8 hurt in Munich accident
Philippine consulate officials said on Monday that they are coordinating closely with German authorities and the Philippine Migrant Workers Office to provide assistance and support to the Filipinos who were involved in a bus accident in Munich.
A total of 35 people were on board the bus, 33 of them Filipino tourists. Two were killed while eight others were seriously injured. The two Italians who were driving the bus were unharmed.
In a statement, the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt (PCG Frankfurt) confirmed that it is in close contact with some of the Filipinos and their relatives while working to determine the whereabouts and condition of all 33 Filipinos on the bus.
The Philippine Honorary Consulate in Munich has also visited some of the affected individuals. Several of the injured Filipinos were brought to different hospitals in Bavaria for treatment while the rest are safe in the care of the Red Cross.
PCG Frankfurt extended its condolences to the families of the two fatalities and said it would continue to monitor the condition of those injured.
“We extend our deepest condolences to those who lost their loved ones and our thoughts to those injured,” it said.
Consulate hotline
“The consulate is ready to provide consular assistance and support to those affected and their families,” the consulate added. PCG Frankfurt may be contacted via its 24/7 hotline at +49 151 53546841.
German state media reported on Sunday that the bus carrying the Filipino tourists suddenly veered off the A96 highway near Buchloe, west of Munich in Bavaria, around 6 a.m. local time (about 12 noon in Manila).
Investigators are looking into the cause of the crash, which was not immediately clear.
One of the injured Filipinos was in critical condition, according to a separate report by state public broadcaster BR, citing the police.
Six people were immediately taken to hospitals by rescue helicopters, while two others were transported to clinics by ambulance.
Another 22 people were treated at a designated casualty collection point, several of whom were also taken to hospitals as well.
The BR report, citing Martin Cornils, a spokesman for the Fürstenfeldbruck Traffic Police Inspectorate, said the 33 Filipino tourists were reportedly traveling to Munich for Oktoberfest.
The bus, operated by an Italian company, was traveling from Milan when, for reasons that remain unclear, it veered off the road to the right without involving any other road users.
It overturned and came to rest on its right side beside a ditch along the highway.
The public prosecutor’s office commissioned an expert to determine how the crash occurred.
One of the victims was a 58-year-old man, but the second victim had not yet been identified, police said.
Images from the scene showed the bus lying on its side in a wooded area where rescuers had been deployed, sealing the motorway in both directions.
Earlier this month, five people were killed when a Dutch tour bus crashed in eastern Switzerland. —WITH REPORTS FROM AFP AND AP
