2 hours ago
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Emergency services rushed to Newtownards, a municipality successful County Down, connected the day of October 7 pursuing reports of an overturned vehicle.
Initial reports suggested the conveyance overturned connected the Ballyblack Road East country was a schoolhouse autobus carrying arsenic galore arsenic 70 passengers. A connection issued astir 6pm by the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service clarified: "Following a Road Traffic Incident this day successful the Carrowdore area, the Northern Ireland Ambulance declared a Major Incident, based connected the fig of resources required to be the incident.
"Initial reports indicated that astir 70 radical were connected committee the bus. This fig has been revised to 43 and a driver. NIAS has assessed and treated patients astatine the scene, with 4 presently requiring further attraction astatine hospital. The remainder person either been, oregon are successful the process of being assessed with a presumption to discharging astatine the scene. As this remains an ongoing incident, NIAS volition supply further updates arsenic appropriate."
A large incidental was declared and constabulary person advised motorists to find an alternate way for their journeys arsenic officers be the "one conveyance roadworthy postulation collision".
An aboriginal connection by the constabulary read: "Motorists are advised to debar the Ballyblack Road East successful Newtownards, arsenic constabulary and colleagues from the exigency services are presently astatine the country of a 1 conveyance roadworthy postulation collision. There are diversions successful place. Please question an alternate way for your journey."
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6 mins ago21:05 Lauran O'Toole
Live blog closure
We are present ending this unrecorded blog, convey you for pursuing along.
8 mins ago21:03 Lauran O'Toole
Health Minister praises unit for exigency effect to crash
Calling the incidental "shocking" Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has praised the effect of exigency work crews and infirmary staff.
Minister Nesbitt said: “This has been a shocking incidental and my thoughts this evening are with each of those affected and their families. I americium receiving regular updates.
“I privation to explicit my heartfelt acknowledgment to the exigency crews attending the country and to the infirmary unit caring for those who person been injured. NIAS, NIFRS, PSNI, Air Ambulance, South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust (SEHSCT) and the wider HSC strategy person each played their part.
“I cognize I americium speaking for the full assemblage successful expressing my gratitude for the accelerated and businesslike mode successful which they responded, and for their expertise and professionalism. I americium arrogant of everyone progressive successful responding to the large incidental today.”
28 mins ago20:43 Lauran O'Toole
Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service permission scene
Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service Area Commander Brian Stanfield said:
“Firefighters were called to reports of an overturned autobus connected the Ballyblack Road East country of Newtownards astatine 3.50pm today, 07 October 2024.
“Five Fire Appliances attended the country including those from Newtownards, Bangor, Donaghadee and Central Fire Station, Belfast arsenic good arsenic the Specialist Rescue Team from Central Fire Station.
“Firefighters utilizing specializer cutting instrumentality rescued 2 casualties from the autobus and provided enactment to NIAS for a fig of different casualties.
“Our thoughts are with those progressive successful the collision and we anticipation that those injured person a afloat and speedy recovery.
“Firefighters near the country astatine 6.28pm”.
1 hr ago20:00 Lauran O'Toole
Incident table acceptable up astatine school
Strangford College said the schoolhouse remains unfastened and an incidental table has been acceptable up pursuing the crash.
A tiny constabulary beingness is besides connected site, with a multi-agency gathering believed to beryllium going connected wrong the school.
2 hours ago19:32 Lauran O'Toole
Four pupils taken to infirmary for further treatment
Translink Group Chief Executive, Chris Conway said: “We tin corroborate an Ulsterbus work carrying schoolhouse pupils from Strangford College to Bangor has been progressive successful an incidental connected the Ballyblack Road East adjacent Newtownards astatine conscionable aft 4pm this afternoon. No different vehicles were progressive successful this incident.
“Emergency services were called to the scene.
“NIAS assessed and treated 43 pupils astatine the country positive the driver, with 4 of the pupils taken to infirmary for further treatment.
“Translink is assisting the PSNI with their investigations.
“Our thoughts are with each those progressive successful this incident”.
2 hours ago19:29 Lauran O'Toole
"Everyone was screaming and crying"
A 12-year-old schoolboy recalled the infinitesimal the autobus toppled implicit connected to its side.
Speaking to Belfast Live, Dylan said: "It was precise scary and noisy. I heard the bang and felt the autobus deed thing and past it started swerving connected the road.
"Everyone was screaming and crying and past autobus started to thin implicit and past it conscionable fell implicit connected its broadside and it stopped successful a field.
"I deliberation I was unconscious for a 2nd but past it each went clear. I could perceive crying. I was connected the level sideways and started to ascent retired - determination were schoolhouse bags each implicit the spot and I crawled nether them and managed to get out."
2 hours ago19:24 Lauran O'Toole
Ambulance Service has present “stood down”
The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service has present “stood down” this afternoon’s large incident.
NIAS added that the "service volition stay engaged for galore hours arsenic we woody with the backlog of calls. Please usage 999 wisely and beryllium diligent if you truly request to telephone us".
2 hours ago18:53 Lauran O'Toole
Northern Ireland Secretary "deeply concerned"
Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn took to X to explicit his deepest concerns.
He said: "I americium profoundly acrophobic to perceive astir the schoolhouse autobus clang successful Newtownards.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with each those progressive and their families, and with the exigency services who are connected the scene."
2 hours ago18:42 Lauran O'Toole
"Really harrowing experience"
Strangford MP Jim Shannon called todays incidental a "really harrowing acquisition for these children.”
He added: "While the injuries whitethorn not beryllium life-threatening, we are inactive not alert to what grade radical person been wounded and I would inquire radical to beryllium mindful of that.”
3 hours ago18:33 Lauran O'Toole
Witness,12, describes crawling connected overturned bus
Dylan Lee, 12, a pupil astatine Strangford Integrated College, described what happened.
"The autobus deed a station and it started to stall and went down this hill," helium said.
Dylan said a antheral with a hammer smashed the windows truthful the children could escape.
"I was crawling nether worldly similar railings and schoolhouse bags and stuff. It was connected its broadside successful the field," helium added.
3 hours ago18:22 Lauran O'Toole
Northern Ireland Ambulance Service statement
Northern Ireland Ambulance Service this evenining said: "Following a Road Traffic Incident this day successful the Carrowdore area, the Northern Ireland Ambulance declared a Major Incident, based connected the fig of resources required to be the incident.
"Initial reports indicated that astir 70 radical were connected committee the bus. This fig has been revised to 43 and a driver."NIAS has assessed and treated patients astatine the scene, with 4 presently requiring further attraction astatine hospital. The remainder person either been, oregon are successful the process of being assessed with a presumption to discharging astatine the scene.
"As this remains an ongoing incident, NIAS volition supply further updates arsenic appropriate."
3 hours ago18:07 Lauran O'Toole
Bus "hit a pole"
One witnesser told the Belfast Live that "the autobus deed a rod oregon station earlier shuddering and toppling implicit down an embankment".
The witnesser described noise, acheronian and astir radical connected committee being injured.
3 hours ago18:04 Lauran O'Toole
Two children were trapped connected the bus
It is understood 1 kid was trapped connected the autobus aft their limb became stuck and different arsenic a effect of their limb being stuck.
All children person present been removed from the autobus and determination are nary reports of immoderate fatalities.
3 hours ago17:52 Lauran O'Toole
43 pupils and a operator connected board
It is believed 43 pupils and a operator were connected committee the autobus which overturned on a agrarian road.
Four radical person sustained superior injuries and are being taken to hospital, according to BBC News who called the country "alarming".
Some of the different passengers sustained insignificant injuries but were each discharged astatine the scene.
4 hours ago17:39 Lauran O'Toole
People spotted walking connected overturned bus
New pictures amusement radical appearing to beryllium walking connected the overturned bus.
It is believed the autobus was bound for Newtownards erstwhile it came disconnected the roadworthy and tipped implicit into a adjacent field.
50 of the passengers person insignificant injuries (Image: PACEMAKER BELFAST)
Children were pulled retired of windows of the conveyance (Image: PACEMAKER BELFAST)
4 hours ago17:33 Lauran O'Toole
Children pulled retired of windows
Children were pulled retired of windows of the conveyance which tipped implicit into a adjacent field, reports The Belfast Telegraph.
It is understood the autobus was transporting pupils from Strangford College to Newtownards astatine the clip of the crash.
4 hours ago17:30 Lauran O'Toole
Five occurrence appliances and the specializer rescue squad astatine scene
There are presently 5 occurrence appliances and the specializer rescue squad astatine the scene.
A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service said: "5 Fire Appliances & the Specialist Rescue Team are presently astatine the country of a roadworthy postulation collision involving an overturned autobus connected the Ballyblack Road East, Newtownards.
"Motorists are advised to debar the area."
4 hours ago17:24 Lauran O'Toole
Eight patients being treated for important injuries
The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said implicit 50 of the passengers person insignificant injuries with 8 patients being treated for much important injuries astatine the scene.
It despatched aggregate resources to the country including doctors, exigency crews, precocious paramedics, accelerated effect paramedics, ambulance officers and the aerial ambulance.
4 hours ago17:22 Lauran O'Toole
Northern Ireland Ambulance Service statement
The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said: "NIAS is presently dealing with a large incidental astatine Carrowdore involving a autobus with up to 70 passengers.
"NIAS has despatched aggregate resources to the scene. Please lone telephone 999 if your concern is life-threatening portion we woody with this incident. More details to follow."
The PSNI described the incidental arsenic a "serious roadworthy postulation collision".
4 hours ago17:18 Lauran O'Toole
Smashed treble decker autobus pictured lying connected its side
Pictures from the country amusement an Ulster Bus double-decker overturned successful a field.
The windscreen of the autobus has been wholly smashed.
Ulster Bus double-decker overturned successful a tract (Image: NC)
4 hours ago17:11 Lauran O'Toole
Councillor "praying everyone is safe"
Councillor Pete Wray said helium is "praying everyone is harmless pursuing this incidental involving a schoolhouse autobus connected the Ballyblack Road East".
4 hours ago17:10 Lauran O'Toole
School pupils climbing retired of overturned bus
Unverified images being shared connected societal media amusement a autobus connected its broadside successful a tract with schoolhouse pupils climbing retired the side. Others are lasting successful the field.
4 hours ago17:07 Lauran O'Toole
Major incidental declared
A large incidental has been declared aft a schoolhouse autobus carrying 70 passengers crashed successful Northern Ireland.
It is reported that a schoolhouse autobus has overturned connected the Ballyblack Road East country adjacent Carrowdore.
4 hours ago16:57 Alice Scarsi
Good afternoon
Good day from London. We volition beryllium bringing you each the latest developments connected the incidental successful Newtownards.
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