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Six killed in Swiss tunnel crash | Six killed in Swiss tunnel crash |
(about 15 hours later) | |
At least six people have been killed in a crash in a busy road tunnel in the southeast of Switzerland. | At least six people have been killed in a crash in a busy road tunnel in the southeast of Switzerland. |
Police say a bus carrying a youth ice hockey team and a car collided in the 750-metre (820 yard) Viamala tunnel near the border with Italy and Austria. | |
Both vehicles caught fire, filling the tunnel with smoke and hampering rescue efforts. | Both vehicles caught fire, filling the tunnel with smoke and hampering rescue efforts. |
The tunnel is almost 40 years old, and with traffic flowing in both directions is of the type now seen as most risky. | The tunnel is almost 40 years old, and with traffic flowing in both directions is of the type now seen as most risky. |
Police said six people had been injured and warned that the death toll might rise. | Police said six people had been injured and warned that the death toll might rise. |
Passengers travelling in other cars were forced to flee on foot and rescue workers say a number are suffering from smoke inhalation. | Passengers travelling in other cars were forced to flee on foot and rescue workers say a number are suffering from smoke inhalation. |
'Wrong lane' | 'Wrong lane' |
The hockey team's coach, Fernando Mozzini, told the Associated Press that the bus crashed head-on into the car, which then skidded along the tunnel wall and caught fire. | The hockey team's coach, Fernando Mozzini, told the Associated Press that the bus crashed head-on into the car, which then skidded along the tunnel wall and caught fire. |
Heavy smoke hampered rescue efforts | Heavy smoke hampered rescue efforts |
He said the car was travelling in the wrong lane and may have swerved into oncoming traffic to avoid hitting an object in the road. | He said the car was travelling in the wrong lane and may have swerved into oncoming traffic to avoid hitting an object in the road. |
The tunnel, on the A13 motorway near the town of Chur, has been closed indefinitely. | The tunnel, on the A13 motorway near the town of Chur, has been closed indefinitely. |
Since a crash and fire in Switzerland's Gotthard tunnel five years ago in which 11 people died, alpine countries have made efforts to improve safety. | Since a crash and fire in Switzerland's Gotthard tunnel five years ago in which 11 people died, alpine countries have made efforts to improve safety. |
New road tunnels often separate traffic flowing in opposite directions and there are more emergency exits. | New road tunnels often separate traffic flowing in opposite directions and there are more emergency exits. |
But bringing all the many ageing tunnels across the Alps up to modern safety standards will take time and money. | But bringing all the many ageing tunnels across the Alps up to modern safety standards will take time and money. |
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