A tragic traffic collision between a bus and a truck in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais has resulted in the deaths of at least 38 people, according to fire department officials who attended the scene. The initial death toll was reported as 22, with another 13 people taken to hospitals near the city of Teófilo Otoni.
The bus, which was carrying 45 passengers and had left São Paulo, reportedly blew a tire, causing the driver to lose control and crash into a lorry. The crash resulted in the bus bursting into flames, with photos showing a truck on top of a crushed car and the road strewn with twisted metal and torn bus seats.
Despite the devastating incident, all three passengers in the car that collided with the bus survived. Uniformed workers were seen at the scene, with more victims still being removed. Governor Romeu Zema of Minas Gerais expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and ensured a full mobilization to support them in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Brazil has a high road traffic death rate, with efforts underway to reduce fatalities on its road network by the end of the decade. This recent accident adds to a series of tragic events on Brazilian roads, including a bus crash in September that resulted in the deaths of three people from a professional American football team.
Source
Photo credit www.theguardian.com