Bus accident in Montseny leaves dozens hospitalized

Some 40 people were left hospitalized Sunday evening after a bus fell down a slope of about 10 meters on the BV-5114 road, in Fogars de Montclús, located in the Montseny natural park. 

Quique Granero, of the Catalan police, said the accident "is currently under investigation," and therefore no potential causes have yet been disclosed. 

The Fire Department deployed 35 units to the scene. The first to arrive were two helicopters carrying personnel from the Special Mountain Operations Group (GRAE), who provided initial care to individuals unable to climb up the embankment on their own. 

Once these individuals were treated and stabilized, the GRAE team performed several hoist operations to extract those in the most urgent condition.

A triage area was set up on the road to assist the Medical Emergency System (SEM) in categorizing the injured based on the severity of their injuries. 

The driver of the bus tested negative for alcohol and drugs, as announced by authorities on Monday. Regarding the injured, a mid-morning update indicated that 87 people received medical attention, seven of whom remain in serious condition.

The bus has a seating capacity of 65. Granero did not answer whether there might have been additional people inside the vehicle. 

Interior Minister Núria Parlon advocated for strengthening regulations to prohibit standing passengers on interurban buses following the accident.

Speaking on radio station RAC1, she described it as a "miracle" that the incident did not result in fatalities, and she indicated that the current regulations, which allow passengers to stand under certain circumstances, should be reviewed.