20 passengers in a bus accident yesterday

Yesterday an Icelandic Coast Guard helicopter was on site.
Photo/Icelandic Coast Guard

Yesterday, shortly after 5 p.m., a bus carrying 20-30 passengers capsized on the Rangárvallavegur road near Stokkalækur. All 27 people injured in a bus accident in southern Iceland today are Icelandic. The injuries of the people vary, but some are “serious,” according to police.

Three helicopters were called to the scene and all passengers were taken to hospital for further treatment. Seven passengers were taken by helicopter to Landsspítali Hospital in Reykjavík, others to the health facilities in Hella or to the South Iceland Health Facility.

This was confirmed by Jón Gunnar Þórhallsson, police chief in South Iceland, in an interview with mbl.is yesterday.

“Now we will just look at the injuries and diagnose them. We don’t know the condition of the injured. So that will become clearer,” he said. “Things range from minor to serious.”

Group accident plan activated

The bus belongs to the bus company GTS, Guðmundur Tyrfingsson. The South Iceland Police reported on Facebook that 26 passengers and a driver were on the bus.

The situation was assessed in such a way that a group emergency plan and the Civil Protection Coordination Centre in Skógarhlíð were activated.

In addition, a large number of ambulances were sent to the scene of the accident, both from the Capital Region Fire Department and the Árnessýsla County Fire Department.

Police in South Iceland are investigating

The cause of the accident is unknown but is being investigated by police in South Iceland.

Þórhallsson declined to comment on whether anyone was seriously injured or dead at the scene of the accident.

The hotline 1717 offers psychological support for those who wish it. A gathering area for family members has been set up on the premises of the Icelandic Police’s Árnes branch at Eyrarvegur 23 in Selfoss.