Spain bus crash: 83 injured as bus falls 20 metres near Barcelona
A regional bus left a narrow mountain road and plunged about 20 metres down an embankment at Fogars de Montclús, north-east of Barcelona, on Sunday, injuring 83 people, seven of them seriously.
At a glance
- A Sagalés bus on route 573 left the narrow BV-5114 road at Fogars de Montclús, near Barcelona, on Sunday afternoon and fell about 20 metres down an embankment.
- Catalonia's medical emergency service said 83 people were hurt: 7 seriously, 18 moderately and 58 with minor injuries. No deaths were reported.
- 23 ambulances, two medical helicopters, firefighter-medical teams, mountain rescue units and psychological support teams were sent to the scene.
- Catalan authorities have opened an investigation into the cause; firefighters searched the hillside with drones and sniffer dogs to make sure no one was missed.
A regional bus left a narrow mountain road and fell about 20 metres (65 feet) down an embankment at Fogars de Montclús, north-east of Barcelona, on Sunday afternoon, October 25, injuring 83 people, Catalonia's emergency medical service said. Seven of the injured are in serious condition; no deaths have been reported.
What happened
The bus, operated by the Catalan transport company Sagalés, was running on route 573 between Fogars de Montclús and Santa Fe del Montseny, a popular autumn excursion into the Montseny natural park. On the BV-5114, a steep and winding road through the mountains, it veered off the carriageway and rolled down the slope. Some passengers managed to climb out and reach the road on their own before rescuers arrived.
Emergency services received at least 25 calls. The regional health service sent a large response to the remote site:
| Response / casualties | Number |
|---|---|
| People injured | 83 |
| Seriously injured | 7 |
| Moderately injured | 18 |
| Minor injuries | 58 |
| Ambulances | 23 |
| Medical helicopters | 2 |
| Firefighter-medical teams | 3 |
| Psychological support teams | 3 |
Firefighters also deployed specialist mountain rescue units, and searched the wooded hillside with drones and sniffer dogs to make sure no passenger had been thrown clear and missed. The injured were taken to hospitals across the region.
Reactions
Olga Pané, health minister in Catalonia's regional government, said rescue crews were combing the area to establish whether there were any further victims. Sagalés said on social media that it was cooperating fully with the authorities and that its priority was the care of the affected passengers and the driver.
Background
Montseny, a mountain range and UNESCO biosphere reserve about 60 km from Barcelona, draws large numbers of visitors in autumn for its beech and chestnut forests, and weekend buses on the mountain routes are often full. The BV-5114 climbs through tight hairpin bends with little room for large vehicles.
Spain has strict rules for coaches, including compulsory seat belts, but serious bus crashes still happen on rural roads. Catalonia's worst recent coach disaster was in 2016, when 13 university students died after a bus crashed on the AP-7 motorway near Freginals.
Why it matters
The number of injured makes this one of Catalonia's largest road-accident responses in years, and it will put attention on safety on narrow mountain roads used by full-size buses, especially at weekends when tourist traffic peaks. Regional authorities may face questions about vehicle size limits and crash barriers on routes such as the BV-5114.
What happens next
The Mossos d'Esquadra, Catalonia's police, are investigating the cause, including the state of the vehicle, road conditions and the driver's actions. Health officials are expected to update the condition of the seven seriously injured passengers on Monday, and the BV-5114 may stay restricted while the bus is recovered from the slope.
Questions people are asking
Where did the Spain bus crash happen?
The bus crashed at Fogars de Montclús, a village in the Montseny mountains about 60 km north-east of Barcelona, in Catalonia. It left the winding BV-5114 road and fell about 20 metres down a slope.
How many people were injured in the bus crash near Barcelona?
Catalonia's emergency medical service said 83 people were injured: seven seriously, 18 moderately and 58 with minor injuries. No deaths were reported.
What caused the Fogars de Montclús bus crash?
The cause is not yet known. Catalan authorities have opened an investigation, and the operator Sagalés said it is cooperating with them.
