Dozens hurt and 17 feared dead after bus engulfed by flames in motorway horror crash

A bus burst into flames after a horror motorway crash leaving 31 people injured and 17 missing.
The bus crashed on the A9 near Hof, north of Nuremberg in southern Germany.

There are fears several people have died while several passengers are suffering from "grave injuries".



The tour bus, which is believed to have been carrying pensioners, collided with a truck on the motorway early this morning.

A police spokesperson told the DPA news agency: "Realistically we have to expect some fatalities."
Police have blocked the motorway as rescue efforts continue. It is not yet clear what caused the collision.



It is believed 46 people and two drivers were on the bus.
Ambulances and helicopters were scrambled to the scene to try to free the injured.

Police spokesman Irene Brandstein said: "It is completely possible that some people did not make it out of the bus, it's unclear where 17 of them are."

 

Another police spokesman said there was "only a glimmer of hope" that any of the 17 missing people will be found alive.
They added: "Perhaps someone ran away in a state of shock."

A police spokesman told German news channel n-tv that there were good medical facilities in Bayreuth, not far from the crash site. - UK Mirror