Cruise passengers injured in fatal Vanuatu bush crash

This morning Vanuatu Daily Post reported three people who had been travelling in the local bus had died from their injuries.

He would not comment on the likelihood of any fatalities among the injured Australians, but added: ‘The injuries are significant – the sort of injuries you’d expect in road trauma’.

Air New Zealand is satisfied that temporary repairs have restored the Bauerfield runway at Port Vila to a safe standard for it to consider charter jet operations.

Port Vila-based paramedic Casey Lewis said the crash was challenging for emergency services with limited resources. Families of injured passengers had been contacted or were in the process of being contacted.

Queensland’s CareFlight rescue service will fly two of 10 seriously injured Australians to Brisbane later on Tuesday.

The tourists, who were visiting Port Vila, were all part of a P&O cruise, ABC reports.

‘Our thoughts are with our guests and families at this time and also with members of the Ni Van community, ‘ P&O said on its Facebook page.

Earlier, P&O spokesman David Jones said the injured Australians were being airlifted out of Vanuatu for treatment.

Pacific Dawn is calling at the port in Vanuatu which is located between the Pacific islands of New Caledonia and Fiji.

“We will continue to provide regular direct updates to them during the day”.

The most seriously injured have already been treated in Noumea after being flown there on Monday night.

He said they had everything from serious head injuries to multiple lower-limb fractures.

‘The tour bus was run by a local operator in Vanuatu, so we are still learning the details of exactly what has happened but we are giving full support to the families of everyone involved, ‘ he said, according to the Herald Sun.

The bus trip was part of a tour operated by a local company. This was in Vanuatu in Port Villa, ‘ Val Mer wrote.