American tourists were among 50 people injured in a fatal tour bus crash in Malta on Monday.
Two passengers, one Spanish and one Belgian, were killed when the ‘hop on, hop off’ open-top bus crashed into a low-hanging branch in the popular town of Zurrieq, just south of the capital Valletta, an area famed for its ruins and the Blue Grotto cave.
Some of the injured, including children, are in a critical condition.
Most of the passengers suffered injuries to the upper parts of their body, including their necks and heads and some required emergency surgery.
Other victims came from the UK, Italy, Germany and Spain.
A total of 12 children were injured in the accident.
A magisterial inquiry, headed by duty magistrate Monica Vella, has already started.
A spokesman for City Sightseeing, operators of the service, said: "We are shocked and saddened to learn that a vehicle operated by our Maltese franchise holder has been involved in a serious accident.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with all of those affected by this tragic event.
"We are communicating with our franchise operator with a view to establishing the full facts of the situation, and are not in a position to comment further at this time."
