Christian Varone, the police chief of the Swiss canton of Valais, told a press conference that 22 out of the 24 hospitalized have been identified, while the other two injured are yet to be identified.
They were returning from a skiing holiday in the Swiss resort of Saint Luc in Val d`Anniviers near Sion, capital city of Valais.
The accident happened at 9:15 p.m. local time (2015 GMT) in a tunnel near Sierre. Swiss police said the bus struck the left side of the tunnel, veered right and crashed into the emergency lane.
Belgian Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo rushed to Switzerland Wednesday morning to survey rescue efforts and take stock of the situation. Belgium`s King Albert went to Melsbroek military airport on Wednesday afternoon to see off relatives of the victims being transported to Switzerland.
The Belgian ambassador to Switzerland Jan Lunks told reporters the entire country was shocked by the accident and expressed gratitude for a timely rescue mission executed by Swiss authorities.
Swiss police said some 200 people were rushed to the scene for rescue operation involving eight helicopters and 12 ambulances. While medical and psychological professionals were assisting the 22 people who survived the accident.
According to Flandersnews, the injured have been taken to four different hospitals across the Swiss district of Valais to as far as Lausanne and Bern. Three injured are said to be in a coma and further deaths cannot be ruled out.
The bus that crashed was in good condition until the accident and there was no sign of speeding or explosives, local prosecutor Oliver Elsig said, adding the cause of the accident was under investigation.
Meanwhile, in Brussels, the European Commission and European Parliament paid tribute to the victims of the tragic accident.
The European Parliament (EP) observed a minute silence for the victims on Wednesday afternoon. "I extend our deepest sympathy to the families of the victims and to all those affected by this disaster," said EP President Martin Schulz.
(C003)
Editor: Ella Syafputri
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