Dutch tour bus carrying 48 passengers overturns in eastern Switzerland, leaving several dead
A travel coach operated for Dutch agency OAD veered off the road and rolled over between Susch and Zernez during a day excursion from Austria, prompting a cross-border emergency response.
Overturned coach in Graubünden
A Dutch travel coach carrying 48 passengers overturned on Thursday along a mountain road in the eastern Swiss canton of Graubünden. The accident occurred on the road corridor connecting the Alpine villages of Susch and Zernez, located in eastern Switzerland within a few kilometers of the borders with both Austria and Italy. Photographs and footage published by regional media outlets showed the vehicle lying on its side off the road after leaving the carriageway. Graubünden cantonal police announced on social media that several people died at the scene and several others suffered injuries. Emergency response teams and first responders were dispatched immediately to provide medical attention and secure the perimeter.
Tour itinerary and passenger composition
The passengers were Dutch vacationers participating in an organized holiday trip to Austria that commenced on Monday. According to Dutch tour operator OAD, the group had embarked on a scheduled single-day excursion across the border into Switzerland on Thursday morning before the bus rolled over. OAD managing director Arjan Koster confirmed that all 48 passengers on board were Dutch clients of the agency. The coach vehicle was supplied by Hartemink, a passenger transport operator based in the Dutch town of Eibergen. Travel organizers established direct communication with Swiss emergency coordinators to assist survivors and manage the notification process for families.
The primary focus is directed there. As well as toward informing family.
Deployment of emergency services
Swiss emergency services deployed a fleet of road ambulances and multiple rescue helicopters to the Alpine crash site between Susch and Zernez. Police officials confirmed to Swiss news agency Keystone-SDA that the collision was classified as a serious incident, noting that it remained unconfirmed whether any additional vehicles contributed to the coach veering off the tarmac. The General Dutch Association of Travel Companies (ANVR), acting as the representative organization for OAD, acknowledged the severity of the accident and stated that emergency protocols were activated immediately. In Rome, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that its consular services were monitoring the situation to determine if any Italian citizens were involved in the border area.
These are Dutch customers of OAD. We cannot yet say how many people have been killed or injured.
- Tour group departs the Netherlands on an organized vacation to Austria.
- The coach group embarks on a scheduled day excursion across the Swiss border.
- The coach veers off the road and overturns between Zernez and Susch in Graubünden.
- Graubünden cantonal police confirm fatalities and dispatch rescue helicopters.
Investigation and roadway closures
The roadway connecting Susch and Zernez was shut down to allow rescue personnel, forensic specialists, and vehicle recovery teams full access to the overturned coach. A representative for bus operator Hartemink stated that the company was unable to provide immediate comments while active operations continued on the ground. Swiss police investigators began examining the road surface and the vehicle wreckage to determine the physical sequence of the rollover. Graubünden authorities confirmed that further official statements regarding the final casualty figures and passenger identities would follow once on-site rescue operations and formal family notifications conclude.
