The bus appeared to have rolled down a hillside. (Photo: AFP)
At least 28 people have died after a bus carrying German tourists plunged off a road and overturned on the Portuguese island of Madeira, BBC News reported.
Another 28 were injured in the accident near the town of Caniço, according to national news agency Lusa.
The accident happened at 18:30 (17:30 GMT) when the driver lost control of the bus at a junction and went off the road, reports said.
The bus was reported to be carrying 55 people. Local Mayor Filipe Sousa said all the tourists on the bus were German but some local people could also be among the casualties, and he added eleven of the fatalities were men and 17 women, BBC News reported.
The scene of the crash has been sealed off and the injured transferred to a hospital in the island's capital, Funchal, Lusa said. An investigation into the crash has been launched, according to BBC News.
Prime Minister Antonio Costa has sent a message of condolence to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Reuters reported.
