A devastating bus crash that killed 10 people and put 21 others in hospital overnight has left a community reeling today.
The bus overturned in the New South Wales Hunter region near Greta, as it was ferrying guests back from a nearby wedding, at about 11.30pm. Police have arrested the driver.
Premier Chris Minns has said the priority now was to care for the injured and those who had lost a loved one.
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"Whatever the final toll is, in this terrible accident, it will be more than we can bear," he said.
Cessnock mayor Jay Suvaal urged people to consider how they could help.
"We need to be thanking (emergency services), thinking of what we can do as a community in circumstances like this, whether it's donating blood, and looking at other ways," he said.
"As more comes to light, I'm sure there will be more information provided."
Wandin Valley Estate, where the wedding was held, will stay closed today.
"We are deeply saddened to hear of the bus crash overnight that has claimed the lives of some of our guests," the owners said in a statement.
"Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of the victims and we are supporting them in any way we can.
"At this time, we are providing support to those guests who need our help and we wish to maintain their privacy and won't be making any further statements at this time."
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement to cameras this morning that the government would offer whatever support was necessary to the families involved.
"For a joyous day like that, in a beautiful place, to end with such terrible loss of life and injury is so cruel, and so sad, and so unfair," he said.
"People hire a bus for weddings in order to keep their guests safe and that just adds to the unimaginable nature of this tragedy."
Albanese confirmed that he had been told by NSW Premier Chris Minns that some locals had been caught up in the tragedy.
And he warned that the impact of it would continue for some time.
"The mental scars of this will not go away," he said.
"They are there forever, and we need to make sure that when the spotlight leaves, the care doesn't, for people who have witnessed this, and for people who have experienced this tragedy first hand.
"For now, we're thinking of you.
"Australia wraps its arms around you and Australians' hopes and prayers are with you on this tragic day."
'Heartbreak' in small community
Singleton mayor Sue Moore said the healing process would stretch for "weeks and months"."
"This is an absolute tragedy," she said.
Local woman Nicky Ainley said it was "truly tragic".
The first inkling she had that something had happened was the sound of helicopters, which woke her at about 1am.
"There was very thick, heavy fog, but you could see helicopters circling around with spotlights," she said.
"Already the community on social media were interacting, saying clearly 'this is horrific', and 'something had happened.'"
She said the tragedy was "heartbreaking" for the small community.
The roundabout where the crash occurred was used daily by many locals, she said.
Hunter MP Dan Repacholi said he had been "devastated" by the news.
"My wife broke out in tears," he said.
"It's devastating for our community and devastating for the people involved in this."
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton also expressed his sorrow.
"As Australians awake to the horrific news of the bus crash in the Hunter Valley, our hopes are with those injured and our hearts break for the families and friends who have lost loved ones last night," he said.
"A terrible tragedy after the joy of a wedding."
Minns said it was a "profoundly tragic event".
"I know the whole community of NSW, and in particular the people of the Hunter, will be shocked and saddened to wake up to this news today," he said.
"I thank our emergency services personnel and agencies for their incredible response overnight and today – NSW Police, NSW Ambulance, NSW Fire and Rescue, NSW Health and Transport for NSW.
"Support is being offered to those impacted by this tragedy."
Cessnock MP Clayton Barr offered his sympathies to the first responders, including firefighters and paramedics.
"There is a bunch of emergency service workers out there who will put their head down on the pillow at some stage today, and need to deal with this," he said.
"Not to mention the great tragedy for everybody on board the bus who clearly all knew each other."
Cessnock Mayor Jay Suvaal said it was "absolutely horrific" news.
"My thoughts are obviously with the people involved in the accident, but their families and friends as well as the first responders on the scene, because it must have been truly horrible for them as well," he said.
He said it would send "shockwaves" through the community.
"We are a close-knit community, and there will be massive showings of support I would imagine throughout the day," he said.
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Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison posted about the tragedy on Facebook.
"I extend my deepest condolences to the family, friends and loved ones involved in the tragedy in the Hunter overnight," she said.
NSW Transport Management Centre executive director Craig Moran said it was a "terrible, tragic event".
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He said he wouldn't like to speculate on the potential causes of the crash with the police investigation underway.
The bus overturned at a roundabout on Wine Country Drive near the Hunter Expressway off-ramp at Greta.
"It's not a problem location that we're aware of, and I guess all of that will come out in a matter of course with the police investigation," Moran told Today.
Australian Medical Association Queensland president Dr Maria Boulton praised the first responders who were called to the "awful" crash site.
"This will have an effect, especially when people live and work in the same community and you know they may know that people may have passed away, and our thoughts are with all of them," she said.
Hunter Valley bus crash: What we know
- A bus carrying guests from a wedding in the NSW Hunter region overturned at about 11.30pm.
- At least 10 people have been confirmed dead, and a further 21 remain in hospital.
- The driver, a 58-year-old man, is under arrest.
- Police continue to work on identifying everybody who was on board the bus.
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