LAST UPDATE | 1 hr ago

A MAJOR EMERGENCY operation is underway in Ballylanders, Co Limerick, after a car and a bus carrying children were involved in a collision this afternoon.

A large number of ambulances, gardaí and two helicopters are attending at the scene.

Gardaí said that it responded to reports of a collision between a car and a bus on the R513 at Ballylanders, County Limerick, shortly before 3pm this afternoon.

One of the car’s occupants, an adult female, has been airlifted to Cork University Hospital with serious injuries.

All bus occupants were medically assessed at the scene and none require immediate hospital treatment. The road is currently closed to traffic and local diversions are in place.

The Shannon-based Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter 115 was tasked to the accident but was later stood down.

One person suffering with a serious head injury has been airlifted by the National Ambulance Service air ambulance from the scene to Cork University Hospital.

It’s believed that four others have suffered non life threatening injuries.