A tour bus on its way to a ski resort in central Japan has slid down a mountainside, killing at least 14 passengers and injuring 27 others.
Advertisement
The bus, run by Tokyo-based budget operator Keyth Tour, was travelling from Shinjuku, in the capital, to ski resorts in the mountainous prefecture.
The overnight bus left Tokyo Thursday night and was carrying 39 people and two drivers.
According to the travel agent most of the passengers were aged from eighteen to early twenties.
The bus was on its way to a ski resort when it crashed.
World says 27 people are being treated in hospital for injuries.
Reports said three people had been confirmed dead, with another 11 – six men and five women – “in a state of cardiac arrest”, a description used by Japan’s media to describe people whose deaths have not been officially confirmed.
Television footage showed the vehicle’s bashed-in front window as a result of impact with the crash barrier. In some cases, drivers had fallen asleep at the wheel.
A fatal highway tour bus crash in 2012 that killed seven on their way to Disneyland prompted some legal steps to improve driving safety, but accidents have continued.
Advertisement
Mr Suga, government spokesman, said the transport ministry had launched an investigation into the accident, sending inspectors to the site.
