2 tourists killed, dozens injured in bus accident

By 조정은

Published : June 5, 2011 - 15:51

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NAMHAE, South Korea, June 5 (Yonhap) -- A tourist bus drove off a road in this southeastern region of South Korea after clashing with passenger vehicles, killing two people and injuring 44 others, police said Sunday.

The bus was returning from a tour to the nearby fishing village of Namhae, 495 kilometers southeast of Seoul, when its driver lost control and clashed with three passenger vehicles headed in the opposite direction at about 10:34 a.m.

The bus veered into the guardrail before falling into a rice paddy located along the road, the police said.

Rescuers try to save lives of passengers at a bus that drove off a road in Namhae on Sunday. (Yonhap)

Two passengers, identified by their surnames Cho and Lee, were killed, with 44 others, including the driver, injured, the police

said. They were moved to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Police said that the bus accident might have been caused as the vehicle's brake system did not work properly, citing testimony from the wounded driver.

An investigation is still under way to determine the exact cause of the accident, they added.

<한글기사>

남해서 관광버스 추락..46명 사상

(남해=연합뉴스) 5일 오전 10시34분께 경남 남해군 삼동면 봉화리 독일마을 인근 내리막 도로를 달리던 관광버스가 마주오던 승용차 3대와 가드레일을 들이받고 반대편 차선 옆 3ｍ 아래 논으로 전도됐다.

이 사고로 관광버스 탑승객 조모(41.여), 이모(56.여.남해군 관광해설사)씨가 숨지고 운전자 한모(48)씨 등 44명이 중경상을 입어 인근 병원으로 옮겨져 치료를 받고 있다.

관광버스 탑승객들은 지난 4일 1박2일 일정으로 독일마을 인근 지족리에서 어촌 마을 체험행사를 마치고 귀가하던 길이었던 것으로 알려졌다.

사고가 난 도로는 최근에 개통한 왕복 2차선 도로로 경사도 10~20%의 내리막길이다.

경찰은 "유압이 부족해 브레이크가 제대로 작동되지 않았다"는 운전자 한씨의 진술을 참고로 정확한 사고 경위를 조사하고 있다.

2 tourists killed, dozens injured in bus accident

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