Three Dutch tourists dead and 31 wounded, three of whom are in serious condition, is the final balance of the run-in, followed by the overturning of a bus that took place last night, at 23:02, near the Paderne junction of Via do Infante, towards Faro-Portimão.
The bus was taken this morning, at 7:00 am, from the place where it had fallen, after the rescue operations for the victims, who passed through the setting up a field hospital on site, they were given up at 2:30 am, three and a half hours after the accident.
One of the injured, polytraumatized, had to be transported by helicopter to the Hospital de São José, in Lisbon, while the rest were later assisted in hospitals in Faro and Portimão, as well as in the Basic Emergency Services (SUB) of Albufeira and Loulé.
According to a source from the Hospital Center of the Algarve, eleven of those injured are admitted to the Hospital de Faro, three in serious condition and eight in non-critical condition, but with seriousness.
At the Hospital de Portimão, three injured people were assisted, and those with minor injuries were observed in the Subs in Albufeira and Loulé.
Traffic, which was cut in both directions on the A22 at 00:31 this morning, at kilometer 48,5, near the Paderne junction, was eventually reopened towards Portimão-Faro around 3:00 am, after the relief operation was concluded. This morning, traffic is already normal in both directions of Via do Infante.
According to CMTV, the accident occurred when "the vehicle [of the Algarve company Frota Azul] overturned and was violently projected off the highway, falling from a viaduct onto a secondary road."
The bus, from the company Frota Azul, transported 34 occupants – 33 Dutch passengers, including a three-year-old child, and the driver -, and provided a “transfer” service from the airport in Faro bound for Lagos and passes through Armação de Pera and Praia da Rocha.
In the rescue of victims, 156 workers were involved, supported by 101 vehicles and two INEM helicopters.
Due to the seriousness of the accident, the resources on the ground had to be reinforced and an advanced medical post was set up on the spot.
The Mobile Emergency Psychological Intervention Unit (UMIPE) of the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM) was also mobilized to support survivors.
The City Council of Albufeira, whose president was at the scene of the accident, provided supplies to the injured and operational and provided a vehicle to transport passengers' luggage to a safe place.
The bus driver, who was seriously injured, spoke during the night with the authorities. The causes of the accident will now be investigated.
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