Two dead after Maltese sightseeing bus hits tree

Two holidaymakers have died after a sightseeing bus crashed into a tree in Zurrieq.

A Spanish woman and a Belgian man were killed after the open-top double decker was hit by low-lying branches.

Malta’s health minister Chris Fearne confirmed around 50 other passengers, including 12 children, were injured in the accident on Valletta Road.

MaltaToday reported that six passengers were in a ‘critical condition’.

Three were British – two boys aged six and eight and a man aged 44.

The others were a German woman, 31, an Italian woman, 72, and a 35-year-old man whose nationality is not yet known.

#Zurrieq bus incident: Mater Dei Helpline 2545 4286

— Chris Fearne (@chrisfearne) April 9, 2018

Mater Dei Hospital said it was treating the accident as a ‘major emergency’ and set up a special helpline which can be reached on 2545 4286.

Transport Malta chairman James Piscopo said the authority was ‘monitorring the situation’.

Very sad to hear about the major accident in Żurrieq involving an open top vehicle. Solidarity with families of victims. @TransportMalta monitoring situation continously.

— James Piscopo (@PiscopoJames) April 9, 2018

Malta Police told 89.7 Bay that accident happened at around 4.15pm on Monday afternoon.

Hop on, hop off buses are popular in Malta, allowing holidaymakers to visit villages and tourist attractions as they please.

A spokeswoman for the British High Commission in Ta’ Xbiex said: ‘We are supporting British people and their families involved in the bus incident in Malta.’

Read more: MaltaToday