Some 75 Irish holidaymakers who were stranded on a snowbound bus for more than 17 hours in the Pyrenees are receiving refreshments and medical attention this evening.
The tourists were en route to Andorra for a skiing holiday when their bus became stuck in heavy snow about five kilometres from the town of Pas de la Casa.
In a statement this evening, Mr Niall McDonnell, managing director of the tour operator, Panorama Holidays, said : "All Panorama Holidays customers have safely arrived at the Sport Centre in Pas de la Casa, where the team of Panorama Holidays reps is on hand along with the medical services.
"Our customers have received refreshments at the Sport Centre and have had a medical check up. They are now being transferred to the Hotel Parma a short distance from the medical centre where they will have a full hot meal and Panorama Holidays reps are also on hand there.
"Those passengers who are due to travel to other resorts (El Tarter (20 mins) and Arinsal (50 mins) ) have decided to do so later this evening."
The holiday company said the tunnel between Pas de la Casa and the resort of Soldeu (the route to El Tarter and Arinsal) is open and that although it is still snowing, the roads are constantly being cleared and there are no further strong winds at present.
"Panorama will be monitoring the weather and road situation on an ongoing basis," Mr McDonnell added.
"The Spanish and French authorities are still working closely with other tour operators to facilitate the many other tourists that have been affected by the adverse weather conditions yesterday evening and today on the road to Pas de la Casa."
The tourists, some of them children, are understood to have been left in freezing temperatures without water or food.
It is understood that 30 of those stranded were being transported on a separate bus with First Choice Holidays when the vehicle got stuck at the same point.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said it was monitoring the situation and had been in touch with the Irish Embassy in Paris. It said it was standing by to offer any consular assistance should it be needed.
The holidaymakers had flown from Cork to Toulouse yesterday.
