Two Filipino tourists were killed and several others injured after a tour bus carrying a group of Filipinos to Munich’s Oktoberfest veered off a highway and overturned in southern Germany on Sunday.
The crash happened at about 5:41 a.m. local time near Buchloe in Bavaria, along the A96 motorway close to the Austrian border. The bus was traveling from Milan toward Munich when it left the roadway and overturned in a wooded area.
German authorities initially faced difficulties determining the exact number of people on board. Later information indicated that about 33 to 35 Filipino tourists were traveling on the coach, along with two Italian drivers, both of whom were unharmed.
Eight people were reported seriously injured, with several transported to nearby hospitals by rescue helicopter and ambulance. One injured passenger was initially reported to be in life-threatening condition.
The two people who died were Filipino nationals. German authorities had not immediately released their identities as officials worked to notify families and establish the full circumstances of the crash.
The Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt confirmed that Filipinos were among those affected and said it was coordinating with German authorities to provide consular assistance and support to the victims and their families.
Emergency services responded in large numbers after the crash, and the motorway was closed in both directions while rescue and recovery operations were carried out.
The cause of the accident remained under investigation. Initial reports indicated that no other vehicles were involved, while authorities continued examining why the coach left the roadway.
The group had been traveling to Munich for Oktoberfest, the world-famous beer festival that began eight days before the accident. The annual event draws millions of visitors from Germany and around the world.
The crash has also renewed attention on the risks faced by large groups of international tourists traveling long distances by coach during the busy European travel season.
For the Filipino community, the tragedy has prompted concern as authorities work to identify the victims, assist those injured and provide information to their relatives.
The immediate priority remains the recovery and medical treatment of those injured, while investigators continue working to determine what caused the bus to leave the A96 motorway.
