Rome, 26 August 2023 (dpa/MIA) — Dozens of people have been injured in a serious bus accident on the A4 motorway in northern Italy.

At least three people were severely injured and another 10 slightly injured, the Italian fire brigade announced on the online platform X, formerly Twitter, following the collision between a tourist coach and a truck on Friday evening.

The coach was carrying mainly Ukrainian tourists, including several children, according to media report.

Initial findings indicate the coach rear-ended a semi-trailer truck on the A4 towards Trieste between the towns of Latisana and San Giorgio di Nogaro in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region in north-eastern Italy.

A total of 10 fire brigade units were deployed in the evening to free people from the bus. Two helicopters were on standby to fly injured people to nearby hospitals. Civil defence was also involved.

Pictures and videos from the accident scene showed the coach had suffered severe front-end damage. Traffic was backed up behind the accident site and the police closed the stretch of motorway. Drivers coming from the direction of Venice had to leave the motorway in Latisana.