More than 30 people have been injured after a horror bus crash in the centre of Barcelona, with at least four left in critical conditions as investigations begin
Dozens of people have been injured after a crash between two buses in the centre of Barcelona, leaving several seriously hurt.
It is understood the accident was caused when one coach was hit from behind by the other on the Avinguida Diagonal, close to the famous Sagrada Familia. As a result of the large shunt the vehicle, carrying cruise passengers including several Brits, mounted the pavement and hit a tree and a lamp post.
The number of injured has jumped to 51 from 30. Autocares Julia, the company operating the coach the cruise liner day trippers were on, confirmed a number of British tourists had been on the vehicle – although it is unknown what ship they were from. He said: “The nationalities most represented on the coach were British, German and Italians.
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“They were on a cruise liner which had arrived in Barcelona earlier today and was due to leave in the next few hours. I don’t know whether there are any British tourists among the most seriously hurt. It is too early to say at this stage.”
Pictures from the scene showed the two buses surrounded by ambulances, police car and fire engines. Around 20 ambulances were mobilised and the avenue where the accident happened was closed to traffic as a result of the incident.
A spokesman for a regional government-run emergency response coordination centre said three of the most seriously hurt victims were taken to hospitals in the area. They said: “Some 34 people have needed medical attention following an accident between two buses on Avinguida Diagonal. Four of them are in a critical condition.
“The fourth critically injured person is trapped and is being freed now. Nineteen ambulances were mobilised.”
Catalonian regional president Salvador Illa said on X: “Very worried following the situation following the accident involving two coaches in Barcelona. I am in permanent contact with the city mayor Jaume Collboni and the emergency services who I thank for their rapid intervention. All my support to those affected.”
In January an “inexperienced” bus driver was arrested after seemingly losing control and crashing at high speed, killing 19 people – including two children. Shocking pictures from the scene showed the bus, belonging to a firm known as Panamericana, lying on its roof by the side of the road.
The vehicle was loaded with 27 people and heading from the Bolivian capital La Paz to the southern border town of Villazon at the time of the early morning crash. Among the victims was a seven-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl. Local police chief Wilson Flores said: “This terrible incident appears to have occurred because the driver was going too fast.”
