THỪA THIÊN-HUẾ — A passenger bus with 23 people on board drove off the winding Hải Vân Pass in Thừa Thiên-Huế Province on Tuesday afternoon, plunging downhill and killing at least one passenger.

Police at the scene have yet to confirm the number of deaths. But Đà Nẵng Polyclinics Hospital said one of the first seven victims treated in the hospital died. The dead victim was identified as Võ Thị Thảo, a 21-year-old student of a college in southern Kiên Giang Province.

The bus was heading from HCM City to northern localities.

The accident occurred at around 1:30pm. Rescue force rushed to the scene to remove the injured passengers one by one from the upturned bus. They were rushed to the closest hospitals in Đà Nẵng City.

Only two of the 23 people on board escaped without any injuries, according to police. By 3:00pm, all of the victims were hospitalised in Đà Nẵng, and the rescuers were lifting up the bus using cranes.

One of the uninjured passengers said the bus driver had agreed to take the curving pass following a request by students looking to enjoy the scenery. Normally, vehicles from Đà Nẵng use Hải Vân Tunnel to reach Thừa Thiên-Huế.

The bus was travelling down one of the pass’s many hills when it ran off the road.

The curves of Hải Vân Pass, which runs between Thừa Thiên-Huế and Đà Nẵng, make it one of the most challenging roads in the country. Only skilled and experienced drivers should attempt to travel on it. — VNS