Romania activates Red Intervention Plan after minibus carrying 16 people, including 5 children, crashes in Câmpulung

The crash

A minibus carrying 16 people, including five children, left the roadway on Strada Petre Zamfirescu in Câmpulung, Argeș county, on Friday morning. The vehicle struck a fence, and two people became trapped inside, according to initial reports from ISU Argeș. The Red Intervention Plan was activated given the number of people involved and the need for a rapid, coordinated response.

Rescue operation

Firefighters, paramedics, and police converged on the scene. The initial dispatch included a fire engine, an extrication crew, a multiple-victim transport vehicle, one SMURD ambulance, and two ambulances from the County Ambulance Service (SAJ). A SMURD helicopter was also assigned to the site.

The intervention was reinforced with a mobile intensive care unit (UTIM) and a first-aid crew from ISU Brașov, plus two additional Argeș County Ambulance Service ambulances, one staffed with a doctor. Rescuers worked to free the two trapped occupants and provide first aid. Authorities had not yet released the total number of injured or their conditions as of the latest update.

What is the Red Plan

The Red Intervention Plan is a protocol activated in Romania when an incident involves a large number of victims or requires resources beyond the routine capacity of local emergency services. It streamlines the deployment of fire, medical, and police units across county lines and can include air support. In this case, the plan brought assets from both Argeș and neighbouring Brașov counties.

Next steps

Emergency crews remained on scene working to stabilise the injured and transport them to hospital. The SMURD helicopter was on standby for airlift if needed. Authorities said they would investigate the circumstances of the crash and release further details on the victims' conditions once the rescue phase concluded.