Brazil: At least 11 people were killed and seven others injured after a head-on collision between a passenger bus and a truck on a federal highway in southern Brazil on Friday, authorities said.

The accident occurred around 11.30 am local time on a federal highway in the southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul, according to Brazil’s Federal Highway Police. Emergency responders rushed to the scene and transported the injured to nearby hospitals.

Officials said the truck was carrying sand, part of which was thrown into the bus upon impact. The spillage made rescue operations difficult, as emergency teams struggled to access passengers trapped inside the wreckage.

Police have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the collision. No official information has yet been released on whether speeding, road conditions, or human error played a role in the crash. Deadly road accidents remain a persistent concern in Brazil, particularly on major highways that see heavy commercial traffic.