Three dead, 20 injured, after bus in Sweden carrying mostly students crashes

Three people have died and 20 others are injured after a bus carrying students to a ski resort crashed in central Sweden, rescue officials said.

Update 4.45pm: A bus carrying school pupils to a ski resort has crashed in central Sweden, killing three people and injuring 20 others.

Seven of the injuries are reported to be serious, rescue officials said.

Update - 11.50am: Three people have died and 19 others are injured after a bus carrying students to a ski resort crashed in central Sweden, rescue officials said.

Rescue services spokesman Peter Nystedt said six of the 19 injured students are in a serious condition. A total of 31 others suffered minor injuries.

The 52 high-school students were en route to a ski resort with seven adults, including the driver, when the accident occurred on a motorway south of Sveg, a small town 260 miles north-west of the capital Stockholm.

The cause of the accident was not immediately known but the road reportedly was icy when the accident occurred about 7am local time.

Pictures showed the bus lying on its side in a ditch beside the highway.

Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said the accident "leaves me and the whole country in sorrow".

Earlier: At least 25 people have been injured in central Sweden after a bus carrying mostly schoolchildren crashed, rescue officials have said.

Rescue services spokesman Peter Nystedt said the vehicle carrying 60 passengers was involved in the accident on a motorway south of Sveg, a small town 260 miles north-west of the capital Stockholm.

The bus was en route to a ski resort on Sunday morning, according to local media.

Pictures showed the bus lying on its side in a ditch beside the road.

The cause of the accident was not known but the road was reportedly icy when the accident occurred at about 7am local time.

-AP