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| Israel tourism bus crash kills 24 | Israel tourism bus crash kills 24 |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A bus carrying Russian visitors has plunged into a ravine in southern Israel, killing at least 24 people, rescue workers say. | A bus carrying Russian visitors has plunged into a ravine in southern Israel, killing at least 24 people, rescue workers say. |
| More than 50 passengers were on the bus when it came off a desert road and rolled down a steep slope near the Red Sea resort of Eilat. | More than 50 passengers were on the bus when it came off a desert road and rolled down a steep slope near the Red Sea resort of Eilat. |
| Several of those hurt were said to be in a serious condition. | Several of those hurt were said to be in a serious condition. |
| The group had only just arrived and were being transported to Eilat from Ovda airport in the Negev desert. | The group had only just arrived and were being transported to Eilat from Ovda airport in the Negev desert. |
| The group had come from the Russian city of St Petersburg. Local media reports said they were travel agents from the city on a trip to survey the Red Sea resort. | The group had come from the Russian city of St Petersburg. Local media reports said they were travel agents from the city on a trip to survey the Red Sea resort. |
| Dozens of rescue workers, ambulances and several air force helicopters rushed to the site to evacuate the injured. In pictures: Israel bus crash | Dozens of rescue workers, ambulances and several air force helicopters rushed to the site to evacuate the injured. In pictures: Israel bus crash |
| Television footage showed the blue bus on its side at the bottom of the ravine. | Television footage showed the blue bus on its side at the bottom of the ravine. |
| Several of the passengers were thrown from the bus as it rolled down the slope, an eyewitness said. Luggage and wreckage lay strewn across the slope. | Several of the passengers were thrown from the bus as it rolled down the slope, an eyewitness said. Luggage and wreckage lay strewn across the slope. |
| "The injuries are severe," said an unnamed rescue worker at the scene. | |
| "The crash is grave, seriously grave, one of the worst I've seen in all my years in this profession." | |
| Some of the casualties were taken to hospital in Eilat, where medical personnel attending a conference were drafted in to help out. Others were flown to the town of Beersheba, a police spokesman said. | Some of the casualties were taken to hospital in Eilat, where medical personnel attending a conference were drafted in to help out. Others were flown to the town of Beersheba, a police spokesman said. |
| The bodies of the deceased were being flown to Tel Aviv for identification. | |
| Six injured people who were trapped in the bus were freed, an Israeli military officer said. | |
| "They were saved because they were trapped in their seats," the Associated Press news agency quoted the unidentified officer as saying. | "They were saved because they were trapped in their seats," the Associated Press news agency quoted the unidentified officer as saying. |
| In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert expressed shock at the "horrific accident". | In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert expressed shock at the "horrific accident". |
| 'Overtook' | 'Overtook' |
| The road where the accident happened links Eilat, a popular holiday destination, with Ovda airport, some 50km (30 miles) away.The bus broke through a rail and rolled down a ravine, witnesses said. | The road where the accident happened links Eilat, a popular holiday destination, with Ovda airport, some 50km (30 miles) away.The bus broke through a rail and rolled down a ravine, witnesses said. |
| It crosses mountainous terrain and involves a series of hair-pin bends. | It crosses mountainous terrain and involves a series of hair-pin bends. |
| The driver of another bus said that the vehicle overtook him in a no-passing zone and then crashed through a guard rail, the Associated Press news agency reported. | The driver of another bus said that the vehicle overtook him in a no-passing zone and then crashed through a guard rail, the Associated Press news agency reported. |
| A taxi driver who saw the accident gave a similar account to Israeli public radio. | A taxi driver who saw the accident gave a similar account to Israeli public radio. |
| "The driver of the bus tried to overtake another bus in a hair-pin curve and lost control of his vehicle," he said. | "The driver of the bus tried to overtake another bus in a hair-pin curve and lost control of his vehicle," he said. |
| Traffic police commissioner Meir Or said the driver had survived the crash but was injured, AFP news agency reported. | |
| Mr Or said the driver was being interrogated and that police were trying to determine the speed at which the vehicle had been travelling. | |
| Russian President Dmitry Medvedev sent condolences to relatives of the victims, Russian media reported. | |
| A spokeswoman for Russia's emergencies ministry said two planes were being sent to Israel, one carrying relatives of those involved in the crash and a cargo plane carrying emergency personnel. | |
| Have you been affected by the crash? You can send us your comments using the form below: | Have you been affected by the crash? You can send us your comments using the form below: |
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