Not less than 38 folks have been killed in a crash involving a bus and a lorry on a serious highway in southeastern Brazil, authorities have mentioned.
One other 13 folks had been taken to hospital following the crash within the nation’s jap state of Minas Gerais, the native hearth division mentioned. Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva described the incident as a “terrible tragedy”.
The coach, which had reportedly departed from Sao Paulo and was carrying 45 passengers, burst into flames when it crashed, with footage of the aftermath displaying the burnt-out stays of the wrecked bus.
The bus driver was amongst these killed.
Picture:
The automobile crushed below the truck. Pic: Belo Horizonte Navy Hearth Division/Reuters
Some witnesses mentioned the crash occurred after the bus blew a tyre, inflicting the motive force to lose management and collide with a truck, whereas others instructed rescue groups {that a} granite block hit the bus, which was heading to the state of Bahia.
Mr da Silva mentioned in an announcement on Saturday: “I deeply regret and send my prayers to the families of the more than 30 fatalities from the accident in Teofilo Otoni, Minas Gerais. I pray for the recovery of the survivors of this terrible tragedy.”
Governor Romeu Zema wrote on X that he had ordered “full mobilisation” of the Minas Gerais authorities to help the victims.
“We are working to ensure that families of the victims are supported to face this tragedy in the most humane way possible, especially as it comes just before Christmas,” Mr Zema mentioned.
This 12 months alone, greater than 10,000 folks died in site visitors accidents within the South American nation, which has a inhabitants of greater than 216 million, in keeping with the Ministry of Transportation.