Seven dead as bus plunges into river in Spain

Vehicle fell 30m from a bridge on Christmas Eve, authorities said

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  A fireman works to rescue victims of a bus that fell into Lerez river in Cerdedo-Cotobade, Pontevedra, in the province of Galicia, Spain 25 December 2022. The bus, coming from the prison of Monterroso in Lugo, plunged into the water after getting off the road while crossing a bridge. Two people died and three other are missing. EPA / LAVANDEIRA JR

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  Emergency services carry a body recovered from the bus. AP

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  The Spanish Civil Guard had initially said eight people were on the bus but the search resumed when one of the two survivors said her travelling companion, a woman, was still missing. EPA

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  The bus was carrying people visiting their loved ones jailed in Monterroso, central Galicia. Reuters

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  A resident looks on as emergency services work on a bridge above the Lerez river. AFP

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  Emergency services were alerted by a motorist who saw a broken railing on the bridge as he drove in heavy rain. AP

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  The wreck of the partially submerged bus lies in the Lerez river. AFP

A seventh body has been found after a bus plunged 30 metres from a bridge into a river in Spain on Christmas Eve.

Rescuers retrieved the body of a woman from the Lerez river in the north-western Galicia region after the overnight crash, authorities said on Monday.

The accident occurred near Vigo and the border with Portugal, AFP reported. Two survivors were rescued on Saturday night and taken to hospitals.

The regional La Voz de Galicia newspaper said the bus was carrying people visiting their loved ones jailed in Monterroso in central Galicia.

Rescue operations had to be suspended overnight on Saturday due to bad weather.

The Spanish Guardia Civil had initially said eight people were on the bus but the search resumed when one of the survivors said her travelling companion, a woman, was still missing, AP reported.

The wreck of a bus lies in the Lerez river after it plunged off a bridge on December 24 night near Vigo and the border with Portugal. The bus was carrying people visiting their loved ones jailed in Monterroso in central Galicia. AFP

The initial search for eight was based on the statement of the driver, who was the other survivor.

Regional president Alfonso Rueda said bad weather was a possible cause of the accident.

The driver tested negative for alcohol and drugs and was released from hospital on Monday. The surviving passenger was still in hospital early on Monday.

Emergency services were alerted by a motorist who saw a broken railing on the bridge as he drove in heavy rain.

Authorities said they would drag the bus from the water on Tuesday.