Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
At least seven people were killed when a bus carrying a charity overturned on a mountainous road in northern Vietnam on Saturday, authorities said.
According to Vietnam News Agency, the 29-seater vehicle rolled over and was crushed while traveling downhill in Yen Bai Province. The vehicle hit a guardrail of about 50 meters on the slope connecting National Highway 32 and Provincial Highway 174 in Yen Bai, and then overturned.
According to local media reports, the plane was carrying a group of teachers who were traveling from Hanoi to carry out volunteer work in rural schools.
There were 19 people on board when the accident occurred. Officials said that as of 10:30 a.m. local time, rescuers had pulled 10 survivors from the wreckage, while others were still trapped.
Emergency crews rushed to rescue trapped passengers and deployed heavy machinery to breach the bus.
At least nine of the rescued people were injured. Some news outlets also put the death toll at nine.
Officials have not yet revealed the identities of the victims or confirmed whether the death toll will rise.
Senior local official Hoang Anh Tuan told news agencies the accident was likely caused by brake failure, although authorities said the exact cause was under investigation.
Police and military, local officials and residents were mobilized to assist rescue efforts in the remote area, where steep terrain complicates emergency access. Calls to the provincial government seeking further comment were not immediately returned.
Road accidents remain a major problem in Vietnam, particularly on mountainous roads in the north, where steep gradients, narrow roads and heavy vehicles increase the risk of crashes.
Authorities said they would provide further updates as rescue operations continue and the investigation progresses.