Australian cruise passengers injured in deadly Vanuatu bus crash
Airlifted to hospital after collision in Port Vila.
Three people are dead and at least 12 Australians injured after a tour bus collided with a local vehicle on the Pacific Island of Vanuatu.
The accident occurred in Port Vila, involving passengers travelling aboard the P&O cruise ship Pacific Dawn.
The holidaymakers were returning from a day excursion at Ekasup cultural village when their vehicle hit a local bus carrying commuters.
Three people in the local bus were killed in the crash, while the most seriously injured patients with head injuries, open wounds and long-bone fractures were airlifted to hospitals in Noumea and Brisbane.
ABC reports the condition of some patients is touch-and-go. Doctors and witnesses described the incident as one of the worst accidents ever to occur on the island.
A spokesperson for P&O Cruises Australia says the cruise company is working with the families of those injured.
The Pacific Dawn was on an 11-night cruise from Brisbane. Port Vila was the fourth port stopover. The cruise is expected to depart Port Vila today, however, scheduled stops to Mystery Island and the Isle of Pines before returning to Australia are not confirmed.
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