Three dead in bus crash in St. Petersburg, officials say

At least three people have died and several others are in hospital after a bus crashed and plunged into a river in the Russian city of St. Petersburg, local officials say.

The accident occurred on Friday afternoon on the Potseluev Bridge over the Moika River in the historic city center.

The footage shows the bus swerving into oncoming traffic, colliding with two cars before breaking through the bridge barrier and falling into the water – and sinking within seconds.

The driver of the bus was arrested, authorities said.

According to the Russian Interior Ministry, an estimated 20 people were on board at the time of the incident.

According to authorities, four people were in critical condition and two others were seriously injured in the accident.

Officials say the incident occurred after the driver of the bus lost control while turning onto the bridge from Bolshaya Morskaya Street.

“Rescuers rescued nine people from the sunken bus,” the Ministry of Emergency Situations said on social media. “Unfortunately three people died.”

CCTV footage from the scene appears to show passers-by jumping into the water to rescue passengers.

According to Russian reports, Idris Gadzhiev, Shahban Jabrailov and Muhammad Hasanov were among those who jumped into the river.

“We were driving to Friday prayers when we saw the bus plunge into the river,” Mr Gadzhiev told the Fontanka website.

“We were not heroes, we were just fulfilling our civic duty,” Jabrailov said.

Footage later released by authorities shows emergency services using heavy machinery to lift the bus out of the river.

The Ministry of Emergency Situations later announced that the rescue operations had been completed.

The Potseluev Bridge is located in the center of St. Petersburg, about 1.5 km (0.9 miles) from the Hermitage.