At least 12 dead after Swiss bus plunges into ravine

ORSIERES - At least 12 people were killed and 15 seriously injured when a bus plunged into a ravine in southwestern Switzerland on Sunday.

The bus fell about 250 meters when it slid off a wet road, about 25 km from the Great St Bernard tunnel which links Switzerland and Italy, a spokesman for the regional Valais police said.

More than 100 emergency workers including mountain guides were at the scene, but bad weather hindered their progress and grounded a rescue helicopter.

They said some passengers had been thrown out of the bus as it fell into the ravine near the village of Orsieres.

Police said six women, five men and a teenager were killed.

The bus was carrying 24 passengers who were heading for Savona on Italy's Mediterranean coast for a cruise.

Two drivers and one hostess were also on the bus, which had started its journey in Kallnach, near Berne.

"There was no snow on the road when the bus passed, but it was wet and the bus rolled down the mountain until it came to a stop in a riverbed at the bottom of the ravine," a Valais police spokesman said.

All on board were Swiss, the travel agent who chartered the bus said. The drivers were experienced and the vehicle was less than a year old.

- REUTERS