Dozens of Romanians were victims of Montenegro bus crash

A total of 18 people died when a bus reportedly carrying 47 Romanian tourists and heading for the Adriatic coast swayed off a bridge and crashed into a deep ravine Sunday afternoon, shows the latest report sent on Monday by the crisis unit organized by the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE).

Eight victims are at the intensive care unit of the hospital in Podgorica. A consular team traveled to the scene, a MAE release informed. 

Romania's Ambassador went Sunday afternoon to the hospital. 

«The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is monitoring the condition of the others involved in the accident, and will provide all the necessary assistance», – MAE also said. 

To support the families of the victims of the accident, the crisis unit opened two permanent phone lines: a toll-free line 0800800407 (that can be called only from Romania) and one accessible from abroad too: 0214311259. The lines stay in place throughout the mission of the crisis cell. 

MAE also mentioned that upon the instructions of the Prime Minister of Romania, a Spartan C-27J military aircraft of the Ministry of National Defence with expert medical personnel and a mobile consular team from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on board was dispatched Monday night to Podgorica. Dr. Raed Arafat, State Secretary with the Ministry of Health, was also on the plane. 

Romania's consul in Tirana went to Montenegro to assist the members of the diplomatic mission with the necessary procedures. 

The Foreign Ministry will cover from the emergency fund set at the Minister's disposal the travel costs of the military aircraft. MAE staff are providing at the site consular assistance to the victims of the accident and are taking steps for the repatriation of the bodies. 

A tourist bus plunged Sunday afternoon from a bridge over the Moraca river - Montenegro, into a 30 m deep ravine. The victims of the crash were taken to a hospital in the capital of the country. Dozens of Podgorica locals queued to donate blood for the victims.

Adapted from AGERPRES