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Swiss bus crash: Belgium prepares to repatriate bodies Belgium Switzerland crash: Bereaved families visit site
(about 6 hours later)
The Belgian authorities are preparing to fly home the bodies of 22 children and six adults killed in a coach crash in Switzerland. The families of some of the 22 children killed in a bus crash in Switzerland have visited the scene of the accident near the town of Sierre.
Two C-130 Hercules military planes are on standby. The Belgian cabinet is due to hold an urgent meeting shortly. The visit comes as investigations continue into the cause of the crash, in which six adults also died.
The coach, carrying 52 people back to Belgium following a skiing trip, struck a wall head-on in a tunnel on Tuesday. The coach was carrying 52 people back to Belgium after a school skiing trip in the Swiss Alps when it struck the wall of a tunnel.
Relatives of the victims were later flown to Switzerland, many still unsure about the fate of their children. The Belgian authorities are preparing to fly home the bodies.
Another 24 children were injured, some critically, in the late night accident near the town of Sierre, in the southern Swiss canton of Valais. Another 24 children were injured, some critically. Some of them are expected to return to Belgium soon.
Belgium announced a day of national mourning, while the Swiss and the European parliaments observed a minute's silence for the victims.
It was the most serious traffic accident in Switzerland's history for decades.It was the most serious traffic accident in Switzerland's history for decades.
The Belgian foreign ministry said most of the children were aged about 12, and the bus was one of three hired by a Christian group. The other two reached Belgium safely. The Belgian foreign ministry said most of the children involved were aged about 12.
The children had spent a week skiing in Val d'Anniviers in the Swiss Alps. They had spent a week skiing in Val d'Anniviers in the Swiss Alps and were travelling home on one of three buses hired by a Christian group. The other two reached Belgium safely.
Those on board the bus that crashed were from the Stekske primary school in Lommel, near the Dutch border, and from St Lambertus in Heverlee, near Leuven (Louvain).Those on board the bus that crashed were from the Stekske primary school in Lommel, near the Dutch border, and from St Lambertus in Heverlee, near Leuven (Louvain).
Although most of the victims are Belgian, Swiss officials say the dead include seven Dutch children. Among those injured are three Dutch, one Pole and one German. Although most of the victims were Belgian, Swiss officials said the dead included seven Dutch children. Among those injured are three Dutch, one Pole and one German.
'Tragic day' 'War scene'
Early on Wednesday, distraught relatives attended meetings at St Lambertus school, where they were given the names of pupils known to have survived. About 100 relatives flew to Switzerland on Wednesday on a government plane to identify those who died and visit the scene of the crash, where they laid flowers.
"Parents who know their child is alive are relieved, but for the others it's terrible," said parish priest Dirk De Gendt. Belgian Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo - who also travelled to Switzerland - told reporters it was "an absolutely tragic day" for Belgium.
Speaking outside the primary school in Lommel, local bishop Patrick Hoogmartens said the families were feeling powerless. Tributes were also being laid outside the children's schools in Belgium and books of condolence have been opened.
"None of the parents knows what has happened exactly, if their child has been affected or not," he said.
About 100 relatives later flew to Switzerland on board a government plane.
Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo - who also travelled to Switzerland on Wednesday - told reporters in Sion that it was "an absolutely tragic day" for Belgium.
Possible causes
At a news conference on Wednesday, Swiss prosecutor Olivier Elsig said the bus was nearly new.
It hit a concrete wall that forms part of an emergency access section head-on, in a tunnel where the speed limit is 100km/h (62 mph).
The coach hit a kerb and then swerved into what is a "stop lane" inside the tunnel. It appears to have then carried on and hit the wall at the end of the lane. Judging by the catastrophic destruction of the bus and the loss of life, this was at a very high speed indeed.The coach hit a kerb and then swerved into what is a "stop lane" inside the tunnel. It appears to have then carried on and hit the wall at the end of the lane. Judging by the catastrophic destruction of the bus and the loss of life, this was at a very high speed indeed.
This tunnel is viewed as one of the safest - a motorway tunnel with two lanes each way and a divider so traffic is not facing head-to-head. It looks as though there were no other vehicles involved in this accident.This tunnel is viewed as one of the safest - a motorway tunnel with two lanes each way and a divider so traffic is not facing head-to-head. It looks as though there were no other vehicles involved in this accident.
Although there have been safety questions over some of the more elderly Alpine tunnels, with just two lanes facing each other, this was not one of those. This was a newer tunnel with a lot of safety features - escape lanes, escape telephones, and it's very wide. There should be enough space for traffic not to hit the kerb.Although there have been safety questions over some of the more elderly Alpine tunnels, with just two lanes facing each other, this was not one of those. This was a newer tunnel with a lot of safety features - escape lanes, escape telephones, and it's very wide. There should be enough space for traffic not to hit the kerb.
Mr Elsig said the speed of the bus was still being determined, but there was no indication that it was travelling too fast. At a news conference on Wednesday, Swiss prosecutor Olivier Elsig said the bus was nearly new.
It hit a concrete wall that forms part of an emergency access section head-on, in a tunnel near Sierre, in the southern Swiss canton of Valais.
Both the drivers were killed.
Mr Elsig said the speed of the bus was still being determined but there was no indication that it was travelling faster than the 100km/h (62 mph) speed limit.
The children on the bus were wearing seat belts and no other vehicle was involved, he added.The children on the bus were wearing seat belts and no other vehicle was involved, he added.
Mr Elsig said that possible causes being investigated included a technical failure, the driver suffering a health problem, or "human error".Mr Elsig said that possible causes being investigated included a technical failure, the driver suffering a health problem, or "human error".
Valais police chief Christian Varone described the site as "a scene like a war".
Meanwhile, Belgian Transport Minister Melchior Wathelet said the company that ran the coach, Toptours, had "an excellent reputation".Meanwhile, Belgian Transport Minister Melchior Wathelet said the company that ran the coach, Toptours, had "an excellent reputation".
He said: "The drivers had arrived the night before and had rested during the day before departure. It seems that the law on driving and rest periods has been respected."He said: "The drivers had arrived the night before and had rested during the day before departure. It seems that the law on driving and rest periods has been respected."
Both the drivers were among the dead.
Valais police chief Christian Varone described the site as "a scene like a war".
Belgium announced a day of national mourning, while the Swiss and the European parliaments observed a minute's silence for the victims.
US President Barack Obama offered his deepest condolences to the families of the victims, saying that "the United States stands ready to provide whatever assistance may be helpful".