Tourists hurt as bus overturns

TWENTY-NINE tourists from Sweden and Norway escaped with minor injuries after their bus overturned on a roundabout on the Paralimni to Ayia Napa road yesterday morning.

According to police, the bus, driven by Modestos Thoma from Dherynia, overturned at the roundabout at around 11am. The Fire Service was dispatched to rescue the tourists who were trapped in the wreckage and ambulances from Paralimni and Ayia Napa transported them to hospitals in the area and in Nicosia.

The tourists were treated and most were later released.

Police have impounded the bus for forensic examination to determine the cause of the accident, but reports said it was probably due to faulty brakes.

According to police, most of the tourists were elderly and some had to be kept in overnight for precautionary measures.

A Napa Olympic clinic spokeswoman said that although none of the tourists were seriously injured, 16 had been kept overnight for observation due to their age. The Paralimni district hospital said all of its patients had been treated and later released.