"Several" people were believed dead after a tour bus burst into flames following a collision on Monday with a trailer truck in southern Germany, police said.
"We are realistic and will have several dead to report at the end of the day," police spokesman Juergen Stadter told rolling news channel NTV.
There was "only a glimmer of hope" that 17 people missing after the collision would be found alive outside the coach, which was completely gutted, he added.