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Palestinian pupils killed in West Bank school bus crash | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
At least eight Palestinian children and a teacher have been killed in a collision between a school bus and a lorry in the West Bank. | |
The bus was carrying children as young as four on their way to Ramallah, just north of Jerusalem. | |
The vehicle overturned on impact and burst into flames. More than 30 children were injured, and there are fears the death toll may rise. | The vehicle overturned on impact and burst into flames. More than 30 children were injured, and there are fears the death toll may rise. |
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has declared three days of mourning. | Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has declared three days of mourning. |
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed his sorrow and offered assistance. | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed his sorrow and offered assistance. |
'National disaster' | 'National disaster' |
The bus is believed to have been carrying up to 50 children at the time of the crash, which happened on a busy road junction. | The bus is believed to have been carrying up to 50 children at the time of the crash, which happened on a busy road junction. |
In a broadcast, Mr Abbas described the accident as a horrific national disaster and said all flags would fly at half-mast. | In a broadcast, Mr Abbas described the accident as a horrific national disaster and said all flags would fly at half-mast. |
He said many injured were still receiving treatment at medical facilities around the West Bank. | |
The lorry driver, an Israeli-Arab, was injured. | The lorry driver, an Israeli-Arab, was injured. |
Dr Ahmad Bitawi, director of Ramallah Hospital, said five children and a teacher had been pronounced dead at the hospital, while a further 54 people injured in the crash were treated there, Reuters news agency reported. | Dr Ahmad Bitawi, director of Ramallah Hospital, said five children and a teacher had been pronounced dead at the hospital, while a further 54 people injured in the crash were treated there, Reuters news agency reported. |
Some of the survivors were also taken to Jerusalem's Hadassah University Hospital. | Some of the survivors were also taken to Jerusalem's Hadassah University Hospital. |
"It is an ugly, unbelievable, terrible accident; it shakes the feelings of the whole world because it includes babies," Adham Al-Hindin, uncle of two injured children, told Reuters. | "It is an ugly, unbelievable, terrible accident; it shakes the feelings of the whole world because it includes babies," Adham Al-Hindin, uncle of two injured children, told Reuters. |
Treacherous conditions | Treacherous conditions |
Palestinian police spokesman Yousif Osrael said the children had left Ramallah on a school trip but returned because of heavy rain and stormy weather, the Associated Press reported. | |
Mr Osrael said the dead children were aged between four and six. | |
The BBC's Jon Donnison in Jerusalem says the roads in the area have been pretty treacherous following the rain. | |
It was one of the most serious road accidents involving Palestinians in a long time, our correspondent adds. | |
Shalom Galil - an Israeli medical worker at the scene - said the bad weather appeared to have been a factor. | |
He said the steep road where the crash happened had been affected by oil. | |
"We assume that either the bus or the truck slipped and crashed into each other," he said. | |
Mr Galil said Israeli and Palestinian emergency services had worked closely together at the scene. | Mr Galil said Israeli and Palestinian emergency services had worked closely together at the scene. |
"Palestinian firefighters were involved. As far as I could see, there was full co-operation between the firefighters of Judea and Samaria [West Bank] and the Palestinian firefighters." | "Palestinian firefighters were involved. As far as I could see, there was full co-operation between the firefighters of Judea and Samaria [West Bank] and the Palestinian firefighters." |
Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld has said there was no suspicion of foul play. |