Five dead, dozens injured as tourist coach crashes in Swiss Alps

Fri Sep 11 2026 16:06:58 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A Dutch coach hit a barrier in the Swiss Alps, overturning and killing five people, with 40 injured.

A coach carrying tourists from the Netherlands plunged off a road in the Graubünden region of Switzerland, striking a safety barrier and overturning between Susch and Zernez. Five passengers died and 40 others suffered injuries ranging from minor to serious, with rescue operations involving multiple helicopters and ambulance crews. Emergency services are still identifying the victims and investigating the cause of the crash. Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten and Swiss President Guy Parmelin offered condolences, while the incident remains under police scrutiny.

Five dead, dozens injured in Switzerland coach crash

A Dutch tourist coach plowed into a safety barrier and overturned on a narrow country road in the Graubünden region of the Swiss Alps, killing five passengers and injuring 40 others.

The vehicle left the road between Susch and Zernez on a late‑afternoon Thursday when it hit a barrier in a road‑works area. It subsequently rolled onto its side, with the impact and the steep mountain terrain adding to the damage.

Swiss police say the deceased have not yet been identified and that the injured range from serious to minor. 40 people were transported by helicopter and ambulance to hospitals in the area.

The coach had departed the Netherlands on Monday and was on a day‑trip to Switzerland from Austria when the accident happened.

Official statements included condolences from Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten, Dutch King Willem‑Alexander, and Queen Máxima. Swiss President Guy Parmelin posted on X that he was “deeply shocked” and offered “sincere condolences” to families.

Graubünden cantonal police said three people were seriously injured and that seven helicopters from both Switzerland and Austria were involved in rescue operations, alongside fire departments and the Plaiv road‑rescue service.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash, while victims are being cared for at local medical facilities. Zernez, the feed‑point for the Swiss National Park, saw a surge of emergency services in the busy mountain valley.