On Christmas Eve, a bus accident in southern British Columbia, Canada, sent more than 50 people to the hospital, according to authorities.

At least 53 people are being treated by medical staff at three local hospitals, according to Interior Health, the local health authority. Interior Health said late Saturday the accident on Highway 97C prompted a “Code Orange” response from the hospitals, which is a designation used for disasters or mass casualty events.

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“At this moment, we are unable to share patient conditions,” Interior Health wrote in a social media update. “Every attempt will be made to connect relatives with patients as quickly as feasible.”

Premier David Eby of British Columbia and senior government officials released a joint statement stating that the accident happened on Highway 97C-Okanagan Connector between Merritt and Kelowna. The region is around 100 kilometres (62 miles) north of the US-Canada border.

Highway 97C is an east-west highway that serves as a vital link between the Lower Mainland and the Okanagan Valley south of Kelowna, the province’s third largest urban area. At Merritt, it cuts across the Coquihalla Highway.

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“Our thoughts are with those impacted by the crash, their loved ones, and the first responders and health-care workers giving their all to treat people and keep them safe,” the statement continued.

At this time, the reason of the accident is unknown. Interior Health has set up an information line to help families find their loved ones who were involved in the disaster.

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The westernmost province of Canada, British Columbia (abbreviated BC), is positioned between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It will be the third-most populous province in Canada by 2022, with an estimated 5.3 million residents.