2013 Podgorica bus crash

On June 23, 2013, 19 people, all Romanians, were killed and another 28 wounded in a bus crash near Podgorica in Montenegro.[2][3][4] The bus, with registration plate number B 123 MMJ, skidded off the road, crashing into a ravine about 40 m below.[4] A local child who was on the road at the time of the accident was also injured, but not seriously.[4] The accident reportedly occurred around 5 to 6 pm[3][4] 30 km north of Podgorica, the capital and largest city of Montenegro.[2] There were about 50 people on board, all of them Romanian citizens.[2]

2013 Montenegro bus crash
The route of the bus
Details
DateJune 23, 2013
~17:30 local time
Locationnear Morača Monastery, Kolašin Municipality, Montenegro
Coordinates:
42.790199°N 19.3939°E / 42.790199; 19.3939
OperatorGregory Tour
Incident typeCliff plunge
CauseExcessive speed during a rainstorm
Statistics
Passengers47
Deaths19[1]
Injured27 + 1 (pedestrian)

The accident occurred during a rainstorm on a narrow road in mountainous terrain.[2] The exact cause of the accident is unknown.[3] The bus was carrying around 48 passengers, two drivers and a tourist guide, and was headed towards the Adriatic Sea.[4] Attempts to rescue the survivors were inhibited by the rocky terrain of the region.[4][2]

Montenegro's Interior Minister Raško Konjević described the crash as "an extremely serious accident".[2] Milo Đukanović, the Prime Minister of Montenegro, also visited the victims at the hospital, and expressed his condolences to the Romanian Ambassador to Montenegro.[4] The Serbian Government also offered medical assistance for the injured.[4]

Victor Ponta, the Prime Minister of Romania, announced a day of national mourning [5] for the date June 26. On the same day Montenegro also observed a day of national mourning in solidarity with Romania.

Neoplan Tourliner, the model of the bus involved in the accident
The accident occurred at Moraca River Canyon

See also
  • List of road accidents (2010–present)

References
  1. "Tragedia din Muntenegru a mai făcut o victimă. Unul dintre pasagerii din autocarul groazei a murit ieri dimineaţă". Antena 3. 4 December 2013.
  2. "BBC News - Deadly bus plunge in Montenegro". Bbc.co.uk. 2013-04-09. Retrieved 2013-06-24.
  3. "RTCG - Radio Televizija Crne Gore - Nacionalni javni servis :: Hronika :: Autobus sletio u kanjon, 16 mrtvih". Rtcg.me. Retrieved 2013-06-24.
  4. "18 români au MURIT, iar 29 sunt răniţi în urma tragicului accident din Muntenegru. LISTA cu pacienţii români care sunt internaţi în spitalele din Podgoriţa". Antena3.ro. Retrieved 2013-06-24.
  5. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/romania-sends-plane-for-victims-of-bus-crash-in-montenegro-which-killed-at-least-16-people/2013/06/24/6d486d8a-dc96-11e2-a484-7b7f79cd66a1_story.html
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