A Faro Hospital spokesperson confirmed that all fifteen people on the bus were taken to the unit, four of whom were in a “moderate clinical” condition, the driver being among those who were seriously injured. None of the injuries were life-threatening.
According to the hospital spokesperson, the four most seriously injured had suffered exposed fractures and head injuries, and were admitted to the hospital, with the remaining eleven passengers with less serious injuries being gradually discharged throughout the day.
A GNR spokesperson told The Portugal News all passengers on board the bus were British tourists and were being transported by the Spanish-registered coach from the popular holiday resort of Praia da Rocha (Portimão) to Faro airport, some 72 kilometres east.
A statement from the British Embassy confirmed they all belonged to the same extended family. It is not yet known what part of the UK the tourists are from, but they are believed to be aged between 9 and 77.
“We are offering support to a British family following a traffic accident in the Algarve, and our staff are in contact with the hospital services”, the Embassy said.
The accident, which happened near the Areeiro Tunnel between Loulé and Faro at just before 8am, resulted in this particular stretch of the motorway being closed as rescue workers attempted to prise the injured from the wreckage; an operation that took about two hours.
At least two people were said to have been trapped and needed cutting free from the mangled wreckage.
Police confirmed an investigation will now be launched to determine what caused the vehicles, which were both moving at the time of the incident, to crash, in dry, sunny weather.