Two preschoolers left locked in Crete school bus for hours, found in distress

On Wednesday in a village of the Chania region, two preschool children, four and five years old, were left unattended in a KTEL school bus for roughly five hours. The children, who attend a public kindergarten, were not on the morning route; a mother who arrived to give her child lunch was told the child was absent. The bus, parked from early morning until the midday return trip, was later inspected by the driver who discovered the youngsters locked in the back seats, described as wet and in a tragic condition.

Parents allege the accompanying adult failed to verify that all children had disembarked, and the bus’s escort was subsequently removed from her position and dismissed. The local Primary Education Directorate has been informally notified and said it will act as needed. KTEL president Ρεθύμνου Γιάννης Καψανάκη confirmed the dismissal and expressed regret.