A bus carrying Polish pilgrims lost control and fell into a ditch along a highway in Hungary, resulting in 12 deaths and dozens injured.
On Sunday, 16 Aug 2026 GMT+7, Hungarian police reported that a bus carrying Polish pilgrims overturned after veering off the M3 highway, which connects Budapest, Hungary’s capital, with Nyíregyháza in the northeast, at around 01:00 local time.
Hungarian news agency MTI reported that firefighters rescued 35 passengers out of 57, including the driver and one other crew member. Police believe the driver fell asleep at the wheel and have detained him.
Reports added that emergency services attempted to lift the rear axle of the 24-ton bus to free those trapped underneath before a crane arrived to lift the entire vehicle.
Hungarian rescue units stated they treated one critically injured patient, nine seriously injured, and 37 with minor injuries.
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar expressed deep condolences to the families of the deceased and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also offered condolences and announced he had dispatched a special Polish flight with foreign ministry officials and medical teams to assist, stating, “We will get through this difficult time together.”
Polish news agency PAP reported that the bus was returning from Bosnia and Herzegovina carrying pilgrims from the Podkarpacie region, the southernmost part of Poland.
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Source:bbc