Eight people were killed and 40 injured in a pileup involving a Spanish coach and 10 cars early today on the Bayonne-Bordeaux highway in southwest France.
Five of the injured were said to be in serious condition.
The accident at Belin-Beliet in France's Gironde region 40 km from Bordeaux resulted in the closure of the A63 motorway on one of the busiest weekends of the year.
Some 130 firemen, 24 ambulances and fire engines were at the scene to attend to victims. Some had to be cut out of their smashed-up vehicles.
The Spanish-registered coach which was carrying Spanish, Portuguese and north African passengers was overturned beside the road.
All the vehicles involved were on the same side of the motorway but the reasons for the accident, which occurred around 4 am were unclear.
