A recovery operation is currently underway after a bus carrying several people plunged into the Seine River near Paris. Four individuals have been rescued, though officials have not disclosed their condition.
Incident Details
The bus, driven by a trainee driver, was travelling through the town of Juvisy-sur-Orge, located southeast of the French capital, on Thursday when it veered off the road and entered the Seine. According to prosecutors, the driver and three other passengers were rescued, and an investigation has been launched.
A spokesperson for the IDFM transport authority confirmed that the bus was being operated by a trainee in the final stages of her instruction. Both the trainee and her supervising driver tested negative for drugs and alcohol. The bus was scheduled to be recovered from the water later in the day.
Emergency Response
Several rescue boats, a drone, and helicopters were deployed as part of the recovery effort. The prefecture reported that sixteen fire engines with more than 30 firefighters, along with dozens of police officers, were involved. The bus was completely submerged near a bridge, and the parked car struck by the vehicle also ended up in the river, according to an Agence France-Presse journalist.
A witness, who requested anonymity, told AFP she saw the bus sweep the other vehicle as it went over the edge. “Instead of veering to the right, the bus went straight on and dragged a car down with it,” she said. Bystanders rushed to a nearby barge and threw life rings before emergency services arrived. Another witness, Amine, said he feared a bomb had gone off when he heard the loud crash. “I felt like every firefighter in the department was there,” he added.
