Seven children remain in a stable condition after undergoing emergency surgeries following a school bus crash in Melbourne’s West.

The patients aged 5-11 were being closely monitored on Friday morning at the Royal Children’s and Sunshine hospitals after doctors performed a number of complete and partial amputations.

Police continue to investigate what caused Tuesday’s crash after a bus carrying 46 children from Exford Primary School collided with a truck at Eynesbury, leaving several kids seriously injured.

Truck driver Jamie Gleeson, from Balliang East, was bailed after facing Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday evening charged with four counts of dangerous driving causing serious injury.

Further charges are also being considered and the investigation is ongoing.

Premier Daniel Andrews said on Thursday the government could consider mandating seat belts on buses.

“It’s really important that we establish what happened here and then learn from it. We owe that to everyone who’s been caught up in this,” he said.

Under Victorian law, buses or coaches are not required to have seatbelts unless there is a seat directly facing a front windscreen.

But they must be worn if available, including on school buses.

Members of the community have raised thousands in donations to help devastated families of the injured children.

A GoFundMe page raised more than $20,000 in 24 hours and more fundraising efforts are underway.

Lifeline 13 11 14

beyondblue 1300 22 4636

– AAP