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| Five Britons die in Ecuador crash | Five Britons die in Ecuador crash |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Five young British women have been killed and another 12 Britons injured in a bus crash in Ecuador. | Five young British women have been killed and another 12 Britons injured in a bus crash in Ecuador. |
| The dead have been named as Rebecca Logie, 20, Lizzie Pincock, 19, Indira Swann, 19, Emily Sadler, 20, and Sarah Howard, 27. | The dead have been named as Rebecca Logie, 20, Lizzie Pincock, 19, Indira Swann, 19, Emily Sadler, 20, and Sarah Howard, 27. |
| They were travelling with Warwick-based gap-year specialists VentureCo. | They were travelling with Warwick-based gap-year specialists VentureCo. |
| Their bus is thought to have collided with another vehicle, near Jipijapa, between Quito and Puerto Lopez, on Saturday at about 1800 local time. | Their bus is thought to have collided with another vehicle, near Jipijapa, between Quito and Puerto Lopez, on Saturday at about 1800 local time. |
| 'Deeply saddened' | |
| The victims' next of kin have been informed. | The victims' next of kin have been informed. |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown said his thoughts are with their families and friends. | |
| His spokesman said: "The prime minister was deeply saddened to hear of the deaths of five young British people in Ecuador." | |
| None of the Britons injured are thought to be in a critical condition, the Foreign Office said. A French national and two Ecuadorians were also hurt. | None of the Britons injured are thought to be in a critical condition, the Foreign Office said. A French national and two Ecuadorians were also hurt. |
| VentureCo said the group was returning to Quito by air. | VentureCo said the group was returning to Quito by air. |
| A group set up on the social networking site Facebook ahead of the trip lists 18 expedition members, including one person from VentureCo. | |
| It says they were taking part in either the 15-week "Inca and Amazon Venture" or the 12-week "Inca Venture". | |
| Both trips set out on 27 March and started with two weeks of Spanish language tuition in the capital Quito, according to VentureCo's website. | |
| Local press | Local press |
| According to local newspaper La Hora, the women were killed when a bus from the company Reina del Camino hit another vehicle. | According to local newspaper La Hora, the women were killed when a bus from the company Reina del Camino hit another vehicle. |
| The paper reports the injured were taken to hospitals in Portoviejo, Manta and Jipijapa. | The paper reports the injured were taken to hospitals in Portoviejo, Manta and Jipijapa. |
| Around 22,000 Britons visit Ecuador every year, according to the Foreign Office. | Around 22,000 Britons visit Ecuador every year, according to the Foreign Office. |
| The South American country - which includes the Galapagos Islands - is known for its volcanoes, tropical forests and rich wildlife. | The South American country - which includes the Galapagos Islands - is known for its volcanoes, tropical forests and rich wildlife. |
| The travel editor of the Independent newspaper, Simon Calder, said the country's infrastructure was basic. | The travel editor of the Independent newspaper, Simon Calder, said the country's infrastructure was basic. |
| "This is a third world country with all the problems that come with that," he told the BBC. | "This is a third world country with all the problems that come with that," he told the BBC. |
| He said the operators "will certainly have gone to every length to make sure that the local bus company is reliable and safe". | He said the operators "will certainly have gone to every length to make sure that the local bus company is reliable and safe". |
| "Unfortunately you cannot legislate against accidents." | "Unfortunately you cannot legislate against accidents." |
| Anyone concerned for the safety of a friend or relative in Ecuador can call the Foreign Office on 020 7008 1500. |