8:45AM EST: UPDATES BELOW A bus packed with tourists flipped over, and rolled at least 70 yards down a ravine near the Ovda Army Base on the Eilat-Mitzpe Ramon Road in southern Eretz Yisroel.

Although details are still sketchy at this time, there are reportedly 50 people injured – some seriously. There are also reports of numerous fatalities R”L as well.

UPDATE 9:00AM EST: Reliable (but unconfirmed) sources tell YWN that as many as 27 people are feared dead in this horrific bus crash. A total of 6 IAF choppers are on the scene.

YWN has learned that the tourists arrived just two hours ago from an Eastern European country, to the airport located in Southern Israel.

UPDATE 10:08AM EST: There are 24 people confirmed dead, 33 people injured – of which 23 are in critical condition. Doctors from across Israel have been scrambled to hospitals to treat the injured. Massive response of Hatzolah, MDA, IDF, and ZAKA to the scene.

UPDATE 11:06AM EST: The bus which crashed was part of a group of 150 travel agents who just arrived on a tour of Israel. Conflicting reports of what caused the crash. A driver of a second bus travelling behind told Israel Radio that the driver was driving recklessly when the crash occurred. Other reports from eyewitnesses are that one bus passed another, causing him to lose control.

As soon as further details are available, YWN will bring you the updates.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel Desk)