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Belgium reveals names of Russian tourists who died in bus crash

Belgium’s crisis response center has revealed the names of three Russian citizens who have died in a bus crash near Antwerp

ANTWERP, April 14 (Itar-Tass) - Belgium’s crisis response center has revealed the names of three Russian citizens who have died in a bus crash near Antwerp.

The victims are Olga Ashurova, a tour guide from St Petersburg, and two residents of the southern Russian city of Volgograd - Nadezhda Derbentseva /b. 1962/ and Ilya Kibirev /b, 1998/.

Another two persons who died in the crash are two drivers from Poland.

In addition, two Russian teenagers remain in a critical condition. Of the nineteen injured, five people have heavy injuries but their lives are not in danger.

A total of eighteen people on the bus were not injured, the mayor of the nearby Ranst commune told Itar-Tass by telephone.

The bus was carrying 42 persons, including 39 Russian citizens. The latter figure include 31 school students from Volgograd aged younger than 17 years old and eight chaperons, as well as two drivers and a guide from Poland.

The Russians have been hospitalized in five hospitals of the Antwerp province. Russian diplomats have arrived there, too.

Most of the injured have been taken to a hospital in the city of Malle.

The passengers who were not injured are staying at a rescue center in Zandhoven, 20 km away from Antwerp, with the Russian embassy taking steps towards their immediate return home.

Press attach· of the Russian embassy, Georgy Kuznetsov told Itar-Tass the Belgian authorities are rendering prompt assistance to the Russian tourists who have suffered injuries or were otherwise affected by the accident, which took place on the E34 toad 10 km to the East of Antwerp at 06:30 Central European Time Sunday.

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