Bus crash tragedy in Italy – Identification of the victims could take several days

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said at a press conference that “the identities of the 16 dead and two critically injured victims of Friday’s bus crash in Verona have yet to be determined”.

“There were 54 passengers and two drivers of Hungarian nationality in the bus. The passengers included 43 minors and 11 adults. According to official information, the accident claimed 16 lives and 6 people are being treated in hospital for injuries, two of whom are in critical condition”, he told the press.

“The two critically injured passengers have not yet been identified; one suffered third degree burns on over 60 percent of his body, while the other has undergone a major cranial operation”, he continued, adding that “according to the decision of the Italian doctors, the other four seriously injured victims could be transported home as early as Sunday by road or air, and the National Ambulance Service is ready to bring them home”.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade also stated that the Italian authorities have already taken DNA samples from some of the victims and parents who have travelled to Verona, and according to the authorities their identification could take several days.

Mr. Szijjártó praised the work of the national Ambulance Service and the Italian healthcare, legal and transport authorities. “Eight colleagues from the Ministry are on site, including four from Milan and the Hungarian Ambassador to Rome, and the Minister of State for Public Administration will also be arriving there shortly”, he highlighted. “Transport home and the costs of accommodation in Italy are being paid for by the Hungarian Government”, he confirmed.