The incident occurred around 13:30 local time, when the vehicle veered off the road and partially submerged in the Åsvatnet lake. In addition to the fatalities, police reported that four other individuals sustained serious injuries. Emergency services quickly evacuated three critically injured passengers via helicopter to Stokmarknes Hospital, while others were taken to a nearby school for shelter.
The Norwegian Red Cross announced their dispatch of teams to the location, describing it as a "serious bus accident" on the E10 road, where rescue teams faced challenging conditions due to heavy snowdrifts and strong winds. Eyewitness accounts suggest the bus was en route from Narvik to the picturesque Lofoten archipelago at the time of the mishap.
In a show of solidarity, Vidar Thom Benjaminsen, the mayor of the nearby Vågan district, confirmed the establishment of a crisis team and designated a local hotel to accommodate affected families and act as a reception center. Norway’s Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, highlighted the severity of the situation and extended his condolences to those impacted by the tragedy.
The Norwegian Red Cross announced their dispatch of teams to the location, describing it as a "serious bus accident" on the E10 road, where rescue teams faced challenging conditions due to heavy snowdrifts and strong winds. Eyewitness accounts suggest the bus was en route from Narvik to the picturesque Lofoten archipelago at the time of the mishap.
In a show of solidarity, Vidar Thom Benjaminsen, the mayor of the nearby Vågan district, confirmed the establishment of a crisis team and designated a local hotel to accommodate affected families and act as a reception center. Norway’s Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, highlighted the severity of the situation and extended his condolences to those impacted by the tragedy.
