Archbishop tells of anguish after Belgian coach crash

A Belgian coach has crashed in a tunnel in Switzerland killing at least 28 people, including 22 children.

The coach reportedly veered into the concrete wall of the tunnel situated on the A9 near Sierre, in the canton of Valais late on Tuesday evening.

Another 24 children were injured in the crash, which occurred as the children returned to the Belgian towns of Lommel and Heverlee at the end of a ski trip.

Andre Joseph Leonard, the Archbishop of Belgium, is in Heverlee.

He told the Associated Press: "There is this terrible fear and uncertainty. There are about eight about whom we don't know what happened, leaving their parents in terrible fear."

The coach carrying the group was one of three hired by a Christian group. Saint Lambertus School in Heverlee had 24 pupils, a teacher and classroom assistant on the trip.

According to Sky News, headteacher Marc Carels said: “We know some of the children are ok, but we don’t have names.

“We asked the parents to come and we are trying to comfort them.”

Relatives of the victims are being flown to Switzerland today.

Belgian Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo said: “This is a tragic day for all of Belgium … first thoughts go to the victims, to the members of their family and their loved ones.”

Jan Luykx, the Belgian ambassador to Switzerland, visited the scene of the crash.

He said: “This tragedy will hit the whole of Belgium. The magnitude of the accident is difficult to take in. For the moment I am concentrating on the practical aspects. The emotional side will come when we meet the families.”