Tourist bus crash: Ten still in hospital

By
Kam Leong

Ten patients remained in Kiang Wu Hospital as at 5:30 pm yesterday following a tourist bus crashing into a residential building on Monday afternoon, the Tourism Crisis Management Office (GGCT) said yesterday. Meanwhile, the Social Welfare Bureau has arranged temporary accommodation for nearly 20 residents of the building affected by the accident.
According to the GGCT statement yesterday evening, the ten patients included three who were seriously injured in the crash. One was still in critical situation while the situation of the other two has stablised.
Seven other patients have been kept in hospital for observation.
On Monday afternoon a tourist bus carrying 44 tourists from several Mainland provinces crashed into the Edifício Wa Keong residence in Rua de Entena near Kiang Wu Hospital on the Peninsula. The tourists had travelled to the city from Shenzhen and were received by a local travel agent.
The GGCT statement indicated that the other 22 injured in the crash, who were discharged from the hospital, have filed a criminal action against the local travel agent. The two parties are now negotiating for compensation, according to the Office.
After the crash yesterday, authorities evacuated more than 10 residents from the building. The affected residence has six storeys, accommodating 21 units and six shops.
According to a statement by the Social Welfare Bureau, as at noon yesterday arrangements had been made for seven residents to stay in the Centre for Victims of Disaster in Ilha Verde, while more than 10 residents from five other affected homes have been accommodated by local hotels.
Meanwhile, the Land, Public Works and Transport Bureau completed the first-phase reinforcement work for the affected building yesterday evening. According to the Bureau’s vice director, Cheong Ion Man, the city’s Laboratory of Civil Engineering did not find the building obviously titling or any changes to its condition.
Second-phase reinforcement work will be conducted for the residential building once the Fire Services Bureau moves the crashed bus away, the official added.
The driver of the tourist bus, a middle-aged local resident, was arrested by authorities on Monday. Still investigating the cause of the accident, local police presume the crash may have been caused by the driver having failed to properly apply the handbrake before leaving the bus.