At least 35 killed, dozens injured in bus-truck crash in Brazil's Minas Gerais
Brasilia: At least 35 people were killed in a devastating crash involving a passenger bus and a truck on a highway in southeastern Brazil early Saturday morning, near the town of Lajinha in Minas Gerais state, according to Al Jazeera.
The fire department, which responded to the scene, reported that between 32 and 35 individuals lost their lives in the collision. Thirteen others were injured and rushed to hospitals in the nearby city of Teofilo Otoni.
The bus, which had departed from São Paulo with 45 passengers on board, was involved in the crash after one of its tires blew, causing the driver to lose control. The bus then collided with a truck, while a car also became involved in the accident. However, all three occupants of the car survived, the fire department confirmed. Authorities have confirmed that all victims have been recovered from the wreckage, and an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash.
In the aftermath, Governor Romeu Zema announced on social media that he had ordered a "full mobilisation" of state resources to support the survivors and the families of the deceased. "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," Zema said.
The truck driver, who fled the scene, is currently being sought by police, according to a report from Brazilian media outlets. The Federal Highway Police revealed that the highway where the crash occurred was the deadliest in Brazil in 2023, with 559 recorded fatalities. In 2024, over 10,000 people have already lost their lives in traffic accidents across the country, according to the Ministry of Transportation.
In a related incident, Al Jazeera reported a tragic accident in September when a bus carrying the Coritiba Crocodiles football team overturned on a highway, killing three people. The team, based in Curitiba, was en route to Rio de Janeiro for a match, which was subsequently canceled due to the tragedy.
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