Two dead, 30 injured from Barcelona area in bus crash in French Pyrenees

Two people lost their lives and about thirty others were injured in a bus accident on Sunday afternoon in Portè, France.

The bus with 47 passengers was returning from Andorra and had departed from Hospitalet de Llobregat, outside Barcelona.

According to the Catalan Emergency Medical Service (SEM), 32 people received medical attention: three in serious condition, five with moderate injuries and 24 with minor injuries. 

The bus was traveling on the N-320 mountain pass from the Pas de la Casa ski resort in Andorra and was not using the alternative toll road.

Initial reports indicate that the vehicle went off the road and crashed into an embankment.

More than 120 French firefighters were dispatched to the scene, along with Andorran firefighters.

In addition, Catalan emergency services sent seven ground units and a helicopter to assist.

Imma Solé, deputy director of Civil Protection, told RAC1 radio that most of the passengers were Spanish residents of Colombian nationality.

Unlicensed bus operator

The mayor of Hospitalet de Llobregat, David Quirós, said that Chavi Tours, the company responsible for organizing the trip involved in the accident, has been operating for years without a license to provide bus parking services in the city.

However, despite lacking this license, the company is still permitted to act as a mediator, manage certain activities, and contract other companies with up-to-date permits.

Quirós mentioned that authorities are still working to confirm the origins of the victims. If they  are found to be from the city, a support center will be established to assist them and their families.

However, the process of identifying the victims has been complicated by the fact that some have been transferred to hospitals in France. Additionally, the mayor noted that the bus might have made a stop in Barcelona before continuing its journey to Andorra.

The mayor also confirmed that attempts to contact Chavi Tours have been unsuccessful. Several reports also suggest that the company is bankrupt.

Interior minister Núria Parlón explained that the investigation into the accident will be conducted by French authorities, with the assistance of the Catalan police, Mossos d'Esquadra, who will provide information about the organizing company and the bus owner.

Parlón stressed the importance of thoroughly analyzing multiple factors, including the condition of the vehicle, the state of the road, and the weather conditions at the time of the accident.