38 Dead in Horrific Bus and Truck Collision in Brazil
A tragic crash between a passenger bus and a truck early on Saturday morning in Minas Gerais, Brazil, claimed the lives of 38 people. The incident occurred on a highway near Teófilo Otoni, in southeastern Brazil, according to local officials.
The fire department of Minas Gerais, which responded to the scene, reported that 13 others were hospitalized with injuries. The bus, which had departed from São Paulo, was carrying 45 passengers at the time of the crash.
By Saturday afternoon, authorities confirmed that all victims had been removed from the site, and an investigation was underway to determine the cause of the accident. Initial reports from witnesses suggest that the bus blew a tire, causing the driver to lose control and collide with a truck. In another account, a granite block is said to have struck the bus. A car with three passengers also collided with the bus, but fortunately, all three occupants survived.
Brazilian Governor Romeu Zema expressed his condolences and directed the full mobilization of the state government to assist the victims. He stated on social media, “We are working to ensure that the families of the victims receive the support they need during this difficult time, especially as the tragedy occurs just before Christmas.”
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva also issued a statement expressing his sorrow and offering support. “I deeply regret and send my prayers to the families of the more than 30 fatalities from the accident in Teófilo Otoni, Minas Gerais. I pray for the recovery of the survivors of this terrible tragedy,” Lula said.
The crash has added to Brazil’s growing road safety crisis, with over 10,000 people already killed in traffic accidents across the country in 2024, as reported by the Ministry of Transportation.
In a similar incident in September, a bus carrying a football team tragically overturned, resulting in three deaths. The Coritiba Crocodiles, a team from Curitiba, were en route to a game in Rio de Janeiro for Brazil’s American football championship, but the game was canceled following the deadly accident.
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