Hungary mourns student victims of Italy bus crash

(Vatican Radio)  Hungary held a day of national mourning for the 16 people who died when a bus carrying Hungarian secondary school students returning from a ski trip burst into flames late Friday after crashing in Italy. Hungary's visibly moved Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said there were 54 passengers and two Hungarian drivers on the bus which hit the pillar of an overpass on the Venice-Verona motorway. He warned it could take days before the victims are identified. 

Listen to Stefan Bos' report:

At Budapest's Szinyei Merse Pál Gimnázium, where the victims attended class, elderly and younger people braved freezing temperatures to burn small candles and place flowers. Some could be seen saying prayers.

The students returned from a skiing trip in France. One student told reporters that he was lucky to be alive, as at the last moment he didn't join them.   

Hungarians arrived at the Szinyei Merse Pál Gimnázium, a school rooted in history, to support those who lost their loved ones, including János Ház.

PLACING CANDLE, FLOWERS

The 68-year-old told Vatican Radio that he came to burn a candle and place roses near the school where he once studied himself. "We were planning to have our 50-year reunion to celebrate that we finished our study here. But now I think it will be a very sad celebration," he said.

A flag was attached to the wall of the school. For now, it seemed, Hungarians continue to mourn the victims of one of Europe's worst bus crashes involving students in recent memory.

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who declared a day of national mourning, said his prayers were with the families and friends of those hit by the tragedy and President János Áder expressed his condolences.

Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni expressed his sympathy to all Hungarians in a telephone call to Orbán and reportedly pledged that Italian ambulance services and health institutions were making "every effort" to provide the best possible service to injured Hungarians.

SURVIVORS RETURN

All but two of the mainly injured survivors of the were expected to be home Monday, said Hungarian Human Resources Minister Zoltán Balog.

Questions remain why the accident happened.

Hungary’s national police said the National Investigation Office (NNI) launched its own investigation into the crash on suspicion of negligence.

The investigation will be separate from one conducted by Italian authorities.