Portuguese Air Force sends rescue aircraft to Madeira

The Portuguese Air Force wants to send three machines to the Portuguese island after the heavy bus crash on Madeira. "We are preparing two Falcon 50s and one C-295M with medical equipment to service the victims of the Madeira tragedy and, if necessary, transport them quickly to the continent," the air force said.

Actually, head of state Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa had wanted to fly straight to the crash site, but then he decides against it. The military aircraft should be available for possible patient transport to the mainland. "It's much more important to save the injured than leave the president today," he said.

A Força Aérea preparou já dois Falcon 50 e around C-295M, equipped with médicas, para prestar auxílio à vítimas da Tragédia on Madeira, no more necessarem de transporte urgente para o Continente. pic.twitter.com/awr0SYcCGY

A bus with holidaymakers had strayed off the pavement in the town of Caniço and plunged down an embankment onto a residential building. The accident killed at least 29 people, including many Germans. Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa condoned Chancellor Angela Merkel. The regional government ordered a three-day mourning period for the Portuguese island. The flags on all public buildings should be set at half-mast.

Pastor: Helpers take care of injured people

According to media reports, vacationers between the ages of 40 and 50 were on their way from their hotel to a restaurant in the provincial capital of Funchal. "We were shocked to hear about the tragic bus accident on Madeira, but unfortunately we have to assume that victims are from Germany," the Foreign Office said. Portuguese President Sousa said: "I was told that they are all German." The Foreign Office in Berlin set up a crisis team, he can be reached by calling 030-500 030 00.

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The pastor of the German-speaking Evangelical Church in Madeira, has praised the commitment of the Portuguese doctors and nurses after the bus accident on the holiday island. "It was immediately sought on the island people who speak German," said lse Everlien Berardo in the RTL program "Good morning Germany". "Although the doctors and nurses are touching and caring for the injured, it is always important to hear the mother tongue and get a few words of attention."

The cause of this is so far unclear. The prosecutor initiated an investigation. The owner of the vehicle claimed his full cooperation with the investigating authorities. "It is our will and our desire that all facts, reasons and responsibilities of the accident are identified," the news agency Lusa quoted on Thursday from a message from the transport company.

According to media reports, a mechanical problem could have been the reason - either a brake failure or a trapped accelerator pedal. The vice-president of the regional government, Pedro Calado, called any speculation about the cause of the accident "premature."

The Portuguese holiday island of Madeira is a popular tourist destination. In 2017, more than 1.3 million visitors were counted, which was a record. There were particularly many Britons (just under 29 percent) and Germans (just under 28 percent).