At least two people have died and 19 others are being treated in hospitals after a tourist bus crashed near Munich on Sunday morning. The vehicle was carrying around 35 passengers, most of them Filipino nationals, and was en route from Milan to the Bavarian capital for the Oktoberfest, according to local authorities.
The accident occurred at 05:41 local time (03:41 GMT) on a highway near the town of Buchloe, roughly 60 kilometres west of Munich. Martin Cornils, a police spokesman for the Fürstenfeldbruck district, told reporters that the bus "veered off the road and then overturned in the bushes here."
Emergency services, including several rescue helicopters, were dispatched to the scene. Cornils confirmed that "six people were airlifted by rescue helicopter and two people transported by ambulance to nearby hospitals." The six flown out were taken to trauma centres across the region, while the others were admitted to local clinics. The remaining passengers were assessed at the scene, with some treated for minor injuries and shock.
Investigation under way
Police have not yet established what caused the driver to lose control of the coach. Investigators are examining the vehicle, road conditions, and the driver's background as part of the inquiry. No other vehicles appear to have been involved, and there is no immediate indication of foul play.
The bus had been travelling overnight from Milan, a common route for groups heading to the world's largest beer festival. The Oktoberfest, which opened this year with the traditional keg tap by the mayor of Munich, draws millions of visitors from across Europe and beyond. The incident casts a shadow over the festival's opening weekend, which has also seen crowd control measures tested by large Italian contingents.
Local authorities have set up a support centre for relatives of the victims and passengers, and are working with the Philippine consulate in Frankfurt to assist the families. The injured are being treated in hospitals in Munich, Augsburg, and other nearby cities.
Road safety experts point out that coach travel remains one of the safest forms of transport in Europe, but overnight journeys on secondary highways can pose particular risks, including driver fatigue. The European Union has introduced stricter rules on driving hours and mandatory rest breaks for commercial drivers, but enforcement varies across member states.
This is not the first tragedy to strike a tourist group heading to a major European event. In recent years, similar accidents have occurred on routes to festivals and sporting events, prompting calls for more rigorous safety checks on cross-border coach services.
As the investigation continues, the focus remains on the victims and their families. The Philippine community in Germany, one of the largest in Europe, has expressed shock and solidarity. Meanwhile, the Oktoberfest continues, though the mood in Munich is sombre.
For those planning to travel to the festival in the coming days, authorities advise checking with their tour operators and allowing extra time, as emergency services may still be working at the crash site. The autumn travel season is in full swing, and safety remains a priority for all road users.
