A double-decker bus carrying no fewer than 40 schoolchildren has crashed in County Down.
The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) reported a “major incident” but later downgraded it.
The incident occurred on the Ballyblack Road East near Carrowdore after 16:00 BST and involved 43 schoolchildren and the driver.
Four children were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).
The bus was carrying students from Strangford College to Ban.
According to a statement from the PSNI, NIAS treated and discharged 33 people at the site. Several patients self-represented at Ulster Hospital.
The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) dispatched five fire engines to the incident. Firefighters used specialised cutting tools to extract two victims from the bus.
Pictures on social media showed the truck on its side in a field after leaving the road.
The Ballyblack Road will remain closed as police investigate the collision.
Principal Clare Foster of Strangford Integrated College described it as “a very difficult and distressing experience for the students, their families, and the wider school community.”
“We are working closely with the Education Authority (EA) and trained staff from the EA Critical Incident Response Team, and our core focus over the coming days will be on supporting our pupils and staff at this time,” she added.
Ms. Foster thanked the emergency services for “their quick actions, including a number of staff and parents who provided support and first aid.”.
Dylan, a 12-year-old Strangford College student, said he was sitting with a classmate on the upper deck of the bus when it crashed.
“The bus driver crashed into some sort of pole, and he stalled the bus,” he told BBC News NI.
“We started going down the hill, and then we just tipped sideways.”
Dylan said, after opening his eyes, he was lying on the floor of the bus.
“It was scary, very scary. People came down, and they were smashing the windows… I was crawling under the bars, and the school bags were on the floor and stuff.”
Dylan’s mother, Stacey, stated that her son rang her “screaming” about the crash.
“Everyone was screaming in the background behind him—it was deafening,” she said.
“I just ran out of my house… my neighbour heard about this and brought us straight here.”
Stacey said her son suffered head and arm injuries in the crash, but she was relieved he was safe.
According to the PSNI, a casualty centre was established in the school for a period of time following the event.
A small police presence was also on scene, with a multi-agency meeting thought to be going on inside the school.
The Minister of Health, Mike Nesbitt, said it was a “shocking incident,” and his thoughts are with those affected and their families.
“I want to express my heartfelt thanks to the emergency crews attending the scene and to the hospital staff caring for those who have been injured,” a statement said.
“I know I am speaking for the entire community in expressing my gratitude for the fast and efficient way in which they responded and for their expertise and professionalism.
“I am proud of everyone involved in responding to the major incident today.”
