Four people have been taken to hospital after a school bus carrying dozens of children overturned in Co Down.
The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) initially said "up to 70 passengers" were on board.
The NIAS later clarified that 43 pupils and a driver were on board when the crash happened on Monday afternoon.
A major incident was declared at around 4.30pm but stood down two hours later.
The NIAS said four patients required hospital treatment and the rest were to be discharged at scene.
š¢LATEST NEWS ON CARROWDORE INCIDENT
NIAS continues to deal with major incident in Carrowdore. Latest information would indicate that 43 school children on the bus +1 driver. 4 patients will require hospital treatment and the rest should be discharged at scene.ā NIAS (@NIAS999) October 7, 2024
Pictures on social media showed a double-decker on its side in a field.
An air ambulance and advanced paramedics were among resources sent to the scene.
'It just started shaking'
Dylan Lee (12), a pupil at Strangford Integrated College, described what happened.
"The bus hit a post and it started to stall and went down this hill," he said.
"It just started shaking. I closed my eyes and then I opened them and I was on the floor. The first thing I did when I got up was to phone my mum."
Dylan said a man with a hammer smashed the windows so the children could escape.
"I was crawling under stuff like railings and school bags and stuff. It was on its side in the field," he added.
His mother Stacey Lee said: "I could hear him screaming that he had crashed and I could hear all the kids in the background screaming. It was awful."
Dylan's injuries appeared minor - he was left with a lump and cut on his head.
Britain's Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said on X he was "deeply concerned" and his "thoughts and prayers" were with the people involved, their families and emergency services.
I am deeply concerned to hear about the school bus crash in Newtownards. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those involved and their families, and with the emergency services who are on the scene.
ā Hilary Benn (@hilarybennmp) October 7, 2024
