Five Britons killed in Austria coach accident

Five British holidaymakers have been killed in a coach crash near Salzburg in Austria yesterday.

The accident occurred near Hallein, 25kms outside Salzburg, at around 4.30pm local time (3.30pm GMT) when a coach carrying 49 passengers plunged down a motorway embankment and overturned. It is thought that 42 of the passengers were Britons.

The BBC has reported that more than 150 Red Cross members, 130 firefighters, 40 ambulances and seven helicopters were involved in the emergency efforts.

An investigation is underway to establish the cause of the accident, but it has been reported that a minibus may have swerved in front of the coach while overtaking just before the accident.

The Foreign Office has said that it would do all it can to help the victims of the Austria coach crash and their families.

Foreign Office Minister Denis MacShane said today: "I am deeply saddened and shocked by the horrific coach crash in Austria. To those involved and their families I send my sympathies and the assurance that the Foreign Office will continue to do all it can to help them."

Consular staff in Austria have been at the site of the accident since yesterday and are visiting the injured in hospitals.

"Details of the accident, including the identity of casualties, are still emerging," the Minister added.

The majority of the passengers had been staying in the lake resorts of Traunkirchen, Fuschl and St Wolfgang and had been on an excursion to Berchtesgaden organised by the UK tour operator, Inghams.

A spokeswoman for Inghams said: "At the moment, our thoughts are with those who have been involved in the accident and we wish to extend our deepest sympathies to them and their relatives and friends. We would like also to pay a special tribute to the superb work of the Austrian emergency services."

Inghams have said that arrangements are being made for relatives of those injured in the accident to travel to Salzburg. The company is also making arrangements for those with minor injuries to return home.

A senior management team from the operator, which specialises in ski, lake and mountain holidays, is at the scene and will be joined by others this morning.

Anyone who thinks their relatives or friends may have been involved in the incident should contact the Foreign Office's 24-hour emergency number on 020 7008 0000. Inghams have also set up a number on 020 8780 6600.

(gmcg)