To see such a large vehicle and know that there were many people inside was the worst I could imagine, said Yngvar Gustavsen from the rescue service after arriving at the accident site.
Major efforts with helicopter transports and rescue personnel on site prepared for the worst, as the bus was partially submerged in water.
Three people have died, according to the police chief Bernt Are Eilertsen. Eleven people have been taken to hospital, but none are said to have life-threatening injuries, writes public service company NRK.
Some of the passengers were evacuated to a nearby school.
Eight nationalities
The police stated that it was difficult to contact the relatives of those involved because there were several foreign passengers and passenger lists were missing. On board were passengers from China, Singapore, India, Malaysia, the Netherlands, South Sudan, Norway, and France.
The bus drove off the road and ended up in a lake near E10. According to the police, the bus "partially lies in the cold water of Åsvatnet, near Raftsundet".
The Nordland Hospital issued a disaster alert after the incident. A crisis organization and several crisis reception centers were set up.
The hospital has sent out a disaster warning and set up a disaster team, said communicator Ida Kristin Dølmo at the hospital.
Thanks rescue personnel
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre calls the accident "a very serious situation with many people involved" and thanks the responsible authorities for the rescue effort:
My thoughts are with all those involved and affected.
The alarm about the accident came at 13:30 on Boxing Day. Strong storms have ravaged Northern Norway in recent days. Several roads have been closed and ferry services cancelled, reports Dagbladet.
