Bus accident

Initial reports indicate the bus went off the road and overturned injuring passengers.

The accident was confirmed by the Samoa Fire and Emergency Services Authority (SFESA) Commissioner, Tanuvasa Petone Mauga in an interview.

According to Tanuvasa, SFESA teams were deployed to the scene and they are also gathering all details of the incident.

He said that a full report is expected to be ready by next week especially on how many people were injured and whether any lives were lost.

Some 60 people were on board when the packed bus veered off a bridge and fell into the canal on Tuesday in Sidhi district.

Officials say that seven passengers, including the driver, managed to swim to the shore. Rescue teams are looking for the remaining passengers.

The state government has ordered an inquiry into the accident.

Eyewitnesses say that the driver lost control and the bus hit the boundary of the bridge before falling into the Sharda canal.

The Ministry of Police has confirmed the bus flipped off the side of the road last Thursday afternoon.