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a teddybear at the entrance gate of the primary school 't Stekske in Lommel. MICHEL KRAKOWSKI/Belga/Press Association Images

Swiss tunnel crash victims remembered across Belgium

Pictures of the Swiss Alps crash victims have also been released.

CONDOLENCE BOOKS WERE opened in Lommel today as two Belgian schools mourn the loss of 22 of their students and four of their teachers after a tragic bus crash in the Swiss Alps on Tuesday.

Tomorrow has been declared an official day of mourning for the 22 children who lost their lives.

Scenes of grief, sorrow and despair emerged earlier today as relatives of the victims visited the site of the crash inside the Tunnel de Geronde near the Swiss town of Sierre.

Parents were also faced with the heartbreaking task of identifying their children. Preparations are being made so families can fly their loved ones home tonight.

Back in Belgium, pictures of the victims of the crash – including two bus drivers - were installed at Lommel City Hall, where people came to register their condolences.

Young people left flowers, drawings and soft toys outside the two primary schools who lost students in the tragedy.

Switzerland Tunnel Bus Crash
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  • Switzerland Tunnel Bus Crash

  • Switzerland Tunnel Bus Crash

  • Switzerland Tunnel Bus Crash

  • Switzerland Tunnel Bus Crash

  • Switzerland Tunnel Bus Crash

  • Switzerland Tunnel Bus Crash

  • Switzerland Tunnel Bus Crash

  • Switzerland Tunnel Bus Crash

  • Switzerland Tunnel Bus Crash

  • Switzerland Tunnel Bus Crash

  • Switzerland Tunnel Bus Crash

  • Switzerland Tunnel Bus Crash

  • Switzerland Tunnel Bus Crash

  • Switzerland Tunnel Bus Crash

  • Switzerland Tunnel Bus Crash

  • Switzerland Tunnel Bus Crash

  • Switzerland Tunnel Bus Crash

  • Switzerland Tunnel Bus Crash

  • Switzerland Tunnel Bus Crash

  • Switzerland Tunnel Bus Crash

  • Switzerland Tunnel Bus Crash

  • Switzerland Tunnel Bus Crash

  • Switzerland Tunnel Bus Crash

  • Switzerland Tunnel Bus Crash

Investigations into what caused the crash are ongoing.

The Belgian school group was returning from a skiing holiday in Switzerland when their bus crashed head-on into a concrete wall in a motorway tunnel at about 9pm on Tuesday.

Police said the bus was not speeding and everyone aboard had been wearing seat belts when it crashed inside the 2.5-kilometre tunnel, a gateway to the Val d’Anniviers tourist region. No other vehicles were involved.

Investigators were still trying to determine how a modern bus, a rested driver and a seemingly safe tunnel could produce one of the deadliest highway crashes in Swiss history.

One theory being reported across Swiss media today is that survivors of the crash claimed the driver had reached to change a DVD on the onboard entertainment system shortly before the crash. It was unclear whether that could have contributed to the crash, and neither police nor prosecutors commented on the report.

Earlier: Swiss crash: Bodies of victims flown home today>

Poignant blog chronicles joy of Belgian children before crash>

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    Mute Darragh O Brien
    Favourite Darragh O Brien
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    Apr 3rd 2016, 8:24 AM

    Say it ain’t so Leicester , say it ain’t so :(

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    Mute Andhesaid
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    Apr 3rd 2016, 8:31 AM

    If there is truth in this then they must all be banned just like the Russian athletes were. I think Seb Coe must personally lead the charge in this dopping scandal too!

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Apr 3rd 2016, 8:46 AM

    So thats shy Daniel O’Donnel performed so well on Strictly come dancing!

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Apr 3rd 2016, 8:47 AM

    Why……..

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    Mute Jo Buckley
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    Apr 3rd 2016, 10:08 AM

    What a surprise! Not only Italians, Spaniards and Eastern Europeans take performance enhancing drugs. British media always derides these countries for their lack of sportsmanship. A little of humble pie is required.
    Let’s see where this end.

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    Mute John Buckley
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    Apr 3rd 2016, 8:40 AM

    Very bad picture. We could have got a look at that bad Doctor’s face!

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    Mute Mark Noonan
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    Apr 3rd 2016, 12:54 PM

    Arsenal players are innocent in this scandal. There’s no way you can take performance enhancing drugs & only win two trophies in 12 years.

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Apr 3rd 2016, 1:50 PM
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    Mute William Boyd
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    Apr 3rd 2016, 9:39 AM

    I’d say it would be easier to count the ones who don’t dope in certain sports, I think there is a mindset if I don’t keep up with the Joneses I simply won’t be able to compete at the highest level?.

    This story does have the potential of opening up a Pandora’s box if the media really get their teeth into it?.

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    Mute Davor Niksic
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    Apr 3rd 2016, 11:53 AM

    Where there’s demand, there’s supply.

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Apr 3rd 2016, 1:50 PM

    Who would have guess that lol…

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    Mute Fiona deFreyne
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    Apr 3rd 2016, 2:22 PM

    Interesting profile of a GP who seems to have a range of treatments which seem almost too good to be true!

    https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=851175108243732&id=223097867718129

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