Seventy children were left stranded at a gas station in Chernivtsi after their bus, transporting them from a camp in Bulgaria, broke down. According to reports, the bus stopped due to a mechanical failure, and the driver unloaded the children and left to seek repairs, taking their belongings with him.
The children, who were accompanied by five adult group leaders, waited at the gas station for eight hours without assistance. The leaders contacted the police regarding the situation. Sources from the National Police stated that the driver chose to drop the children off in a safe location to avoid putting them in danger and went to a repair shop. The bus has since been fixed and is reportedly on its way back to the gas station.
This incident raises questions about the responsibility of the tour operator. Many are asking whether it was acceptable to leave children unattended for such an extended period or if the operator should have dispatched another bus to take them to the nearest hotel.
