Irish holidaymakers who were among a busload of tourists stranded in the Pyrenees for 17 hours because of a blizzard have finally arrived at their destination in Andorra.
In a statement last night Panorama's managing director, Mr Niall McDonnell, said that tourists had received refreshments and a medical check-up on their arrival at Pas de la Casa, following their ordeal.
The 40 tourists arrived in Toulouse airport from Cork at 6 p.m. on Sunday, expecting to arrive in the Andorran resorts of Pasa de La Casa and El Tartar for their skiing holidays at 9.30 to 10 p.m.
Heavy snow fell leaving the bus stranded two hours into their journey. They spent Sunday night coping with freezing temperatures without water, food or toilet facilities.
Police in the area managed to bring a number of women and children to safety at a local station in the early hours of yesterday morning.
The blocked tunnel between Pas de la Casa and Soldeu, the route to the resorts of El Tarter and Arinsal reopened yesterday.
Mr Chris Barry from Glanmire in Co Cork said it was an emotionally draining experience for his wife and children.
"People have coped very well, but they are upset. I have a seven-year-old girl and eight-year-old boy, and it was very hard for them. It has been chaotic," he said.
His wife, Ms Shirley Barry, said travel companies needed to pay more attention to blizzard warnings to avoid a similar situation occurring.
Ms Maresa Egan from Kinsale said that some of the children on the bus were feeling very sick, having gone without food for nearly a day. She stressed that tour representatives had done their best to help, but said that the situation was bordering on disastrous.
An evacuation plan was put in place yesterday at 10 a.m., and the tourists were transferred from the mountains using snowploughs, giving priority to the women and children.
Andorra is one of the most popular ski resorts in Europe. An estimated 13 million people visit this tiny country each year.