Two Filipino nationals were killed and 19 others injured early Sunday, September 27, when a chartered bus carrying Filipino tourists to Munich's Oktoberfest festival overturned on a highway in southern Germany, according to Bavarian police.
The Italian-registered coach, carrying approximately 35 Filipino passengers, veered off the A96 highway near the town of Buchloe in Bavaria's Ostallgäu region at around 6 a.m. local time, overturning and coming to rest on its side in a wooded area beside the road.
Bus Was 30 Minutes From Munich When It Crashed
The tour group had departed Milan at approximately 11:45 p.m. Saturday, embarking on a six-hour drive to Munich. Zenaida Serna, adviser of the Association of Novo Ecijanos in Milan, told GMA News that the bus was roughly 30 minutes from its destination when the crash occurred.
Serna confirmed that one of the group's male members was among those killed. She also disclosed that she had originally signed up for the trip but cancelled due to work obligations.
Scene Described as Chaotic in Immediate Aftermath
Bavarian police spokesman Martin Cornils described the scene following the crash. "In the immediate aftermath, there is naturally a phase of chaos. Personal belongings are scattered around and people are wandering through the forest. It is certainly not a pleasant scene," he said.
German newspaper Bild, citing police, reported that one person died at the scene while the other succumbed to injuries later. Around 250 emergency personnel were deployed to the site, according to local media reports. Bavarian public broadcaster BR, citing police, reported that one of the seriously injured remained in critical condition.
Authorities closed the A96 in both directions near Buchloe, with the highway remaining shut until around noon on Sunday.
All Passengers Were Filipino Nationals
Police confirmed that all passengers aboard were Filipino nationals. Early police accounts placed the group at around 50, but officials later revised the figure to approximately 35. The Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt said the tour group comprised a reported 33 Filipinos traveling from Milan to Munich.
The two bus drivers, both Italian nationals, were unharmed in the crash.
One of the fatalities was identified as a 58-year-old Filipino with permanent residency in Italy, according to a GMA News source in Frankfurt and police quoted by local media. The identity of the second victim has not been publicly disclosed.
Cause of Crash Still Under Investigation
Investigators said the bus, operated by an Italian company, veered off the road to the right for reasons that remain unclear. No other vehicles were involved in the incident. The public prosecutor's office has commissioned an independent expert to determine how the crash occurred, according to police.
A Bavarian police spokesman said at the scene: "An investigation into the cause of the crash will be carried out. Notifications are also being made to the relatives of the victims."
Philippine Consulates Mobilize Assistance
The Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt said it was "deeply saddened" by the accident and extended condolences to the families of the victims. It confirmed that it and the Philippine Honorary Consulate in Munich are in close contact with German police and other authorities.
The consulate said the injured were transported to hospitals across Bavaria, while the remaining passengers are safe and under the care of the Red Cross. The consulate is also working with the Philippine Migrant Workers Office to assist victims and their families. The Philippine Consulate General in Milan is likewise coordinating with passengers and their relatives.
Families and affected travelers may reach the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt on a round-the-clock basis at +49 151 53546841.
Second Deadly Tour Bus Crash in Europe This Month
The Buchloe crash occurred during the second week of Oktoberfest, which had opened eight days prior. It is the second deadly tour bus accident in Europe this month — earlier in September, five people were killed when a Dutch tour bus crashed in eastern Switzerland.
By the Numbers
- 2 — Filipino fatalities confirmed
- 19 — passengers injured
- ~35 — total passengers on board (revised from an early estimate of ~50)
- 33 — Filipinos in the tour group, per the Philippine Consulate General in Frankfurt
- 250 — emergency personnel deployed to the crash site
- 58 — age of one identified fatality, a Filipino resident of Italy
- 5 — people killed in a separate Dutch tour bus crash in Switzerland earlier this month
Why This Matters
The crash is one of the deadliest road accidents involving Filipino nationals in Europe in recent memory, prompting the mobilization of multiple Philippine consulates and the Migrant Workers Office across Germany and Italy. With one passenger still in critical condition as of the latest reports, the death toll could rise. The incident also highlights recurring safety concerns around long-distance chartered coaches transporting tourist groups across European highways.
Photo credit: Photo courtesy of GMA News