A tourist bus headed to Munich’s Oktoberfest veered off a highway and overturned early Sunday, killing two people and injuring dozens more in a devastating crash in southern Germany.
The bus was traveling on the A96 highway near the town of Buchloe, west of Munich, when it left the roadway around 5:40 a.m. local time and rolled into a wooded area.
Authorities later confirmed that 33 Filipino tourists were aboard the bus, along with two Italian drivers.
The group had been traveling from Milan, Italy, to Munich to attend Oktoberfest, the world-famous beer festival that draws millions of visitors to Bavaria each year.
Two passengers were killed in the crash.
German authorities said one of the victims was a 58-year-old Filipino national. The identity of the second person had not yet been publicly released in the latest reports.
Eight people were initially described as seriously injured.
Six victims were airlifted to hospitals by rescue helicopters, while two others were transported by ambulance. One person was reported to be in life-threatening condition.
Another 22 people were treated at the scene, and several of them were later taken to hospitals for additional care.
The two bus drivers were not injured.
Photos from the crash site showed the large coach lying on its side among trees and brush just off the highway as firefighters, paramedics and police surrounded the wreckage.
More than 200 emergency workers responded to the scene, and a section of the A96 was shut down while rescuers treated victims and investigators began examining the crash.
Officials said no other vehicle appeared to have been involved.
The cause remains under investigation.
German prosecutors have ordered an accident reconstruction to determine why the bus suddenly left the highway.
The driver who was behind the wheel is also being investigated for negligent homicide, which police said is standard procedure in a fatal crash of this kind and does not mean he has been found responsible.
The Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt said it was working with German authorities and the Philippine Honorary Consulate in Munich to assist the victims and their families.
Consular officials were also visiting injured passengers in hospitals and working to account for everyone who had been traveling with the group.
The crash happened during the height of Oktoberfest season.
The annual festival began Sept. 19 and runs through Oct. 4 this year. By the halfway point, organizers said roughly 3.8 million people had already visited.
Instead of arriving in Munich for a day of celebration, the tour group’s trip ended in a deadly highway disaster.
Investigators are now working to determine whether driver error, a mechanical problem, road conditions or another factor caused the bus to overturn.
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