Bus plunges off bridge in Greece, killing 14

A bus plunged off a bridge in northern Greece today, killing 14 passengers, injuring eight others and leaving a child missing…

A bus plunged off a bridge in northern Greece today, killing 14 passengers, injuring eight others and leaving a child missing, police said.

The Athens-bound bus crashed through double barriers and plunged into the Aliakmon river, crushing several passengers, the head of the rescue operations told reporters.

"The official toll stands at 14 dead and one child between three and four-years-old missing. There are also eight injured," a police spokesman said.

Rescue workers and police rushed to the scene and tried to lift passengers out of the bus which fell some 10 metres (33 ft) into the river.

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Heavy snowfall and flooding in the past two weeks have hampered road traffic in central and northern Greece and the temperature at the time of the crash was around freezing.

It was not yet clear what had caused the accident. Police officials said there were 23 passengers, including the driver.