[Benjamin]

At least 36 people have been killed in southern Italy when a coach plunged 30m (98ft) down a steep slope, Italian media report citing rescue services.

The coach hit several cars before coming off a flyover near the town of Avellino, in the Campania region.

At least 11 people have been injured, some of them seriously, the Italian news agency Ansa reported.

The coach was taking about 50 people, including children, back to Naples following a pilgrimage, reports say.

The cause of the accident is not clear. The driver of the coach is said to be among the dead.

TV footage showed smashed vehicles on the flyover and shrouded bodies lined up by the side of a road.

"The situation is critical," leading fireman Pellegrino Iandolo told Italian television.

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"Our men are working to save as many lives as possible."

A police spokesman told the French news agency AFP that the number of victims could not yet be confirmed.

"We are still pulling people from the vehicle," he said.

He added that the Naples-Bari highway had been closed to traffic because of the accident.

Reports say the bus smashed through a guardrail on the flyover. It came to rest in heavy undergrowth, which is hampering the rescue operation.

The injured are being taken to hospitals in Avellino, Salerno and Nola, Ansa said.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23486086

[jackc1806]

Terrible, the Megabus £1 trips don't seem a good deal now

[Patrick]

Am I the only one who is overwhelmed by the amount of crashes and accidents this year?

[Ammi]

..it's just staggering that two tragedies like this can happen within days of each other..so very, very sad, more families devastated...

[Redway]

Originally Posted by Patrick

Am I the only one who is overwhelmed by the amount of crashes and accidents this year?

Nope. It's genuinely worrying having plane crashes, a train crash and coach crash within mere months of each other. And let's not forget that tragic incident a tad earlier on in the year where there was another coach crash on the motorway before the hen do night.

[arista]

Could be bad tyres , its been reported.

Not changing tyres saves big money.

[Z]

98 feet! I'm shocked there are any survivors... that's really scary