A tragic accident in Brazil claimed the lives of 38 people after a packed bus collided with a truck and caught fire, according to the local fire department. The bus, carrying 45 passengers, crashed on a major highway near the town of Teófilo Otoni in Minas Gerais. Among the deceased was the bus driver.
Survivors and Aftermath
The other passengers were rushed to a nearby hospital, with many in critical condition. Meanwhile, the truck driver fled the scene. Three individuals in a car, which collided with the truck and became trapped underneath, miraculously survived the crash.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed his condolences, stating, “I deeply mourn and extend my prayers to the families of the more than 30 victims of the accident in Teófilo Otoni, Minas Gerais. I pray for the recovery of the survivors of this terrible tragedy.”
Investigations and Conflicting Reports
The cause of the accident remains unclear. Witnesses provided differing accounts, and a forensic investigation is underway.
Initial reports suggested that a tire blowout on the bus caused the driver to lose control, leading to the collision around 4 a.m. local time on the BR-116 federal highway, a key route linking Brazil’s southeast and northeast regions.
However, some witnesses claimed the truck, which was transporting granite blocks, lost a block that fell onto the road, causing the crash. “Only the forensic investigation will confirm the true version,” the fire department said in a statement.
Worst Highway Accident Since 2007
This incident has been labeled as the deadliest accident on Brazil’s federal highways since 2007, according to the Federal Highway Police (PRF). The bus was en route from São Paulo to Bahia when the crash occurred.
Lieutenant Alonso Vieira Junior of the Minas Gerais fire department noted that a crane would be needed to remove the wreckage. He also revealed that more victims were still trapped in the debris.
