12 Dead, 41 Injured After Illegal Bus Falls Into Gorge Near Sapa

12 people have been reported killed and 41 injured in a bus accident in the hills of Northern Vietnam’s Lao Cai province, reports VN Express.

The accident occurred at 6:30pm on September 1st when the bus carrying 53 people crashed into a gorge in an effort to avoid an oncoming car.

The sleeper bus, owned by Sao Viet Company with a capacity of 47 people was not only overloaded, but also outside of its approved operating zone and was not registered to travel to Sapa.

Sao Viet's director, Do Van Bang, admitted the trip had been illegal but said: “The bus went to Sa Pa due to passenger demand.

Among the dead were at least 2 pregnant women and many of those injured, including those in critical condition, were rushed to hospitals in Hanoi.

Bang said that most of the passengers were students and office workers.

The traffic safety committee has paid VND5 million to the families of the dead and VND2 million those who have been injured.

Traveling on Vietnam’s roads during long holidays is always a risk. Official figures show that during the first three days of the national holiday, 123 traffic accidents occurred across the country, resulting in 66 deaths and 70 injuries others.

Last year, Vietnam logged 29,385 traffic accidents that claimed 9,369 lives and left about 29,500 others injured.

[VN Express]