Massive road accident in Brazil: dozens of victims

In the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais on Saturday, December 21, an accident involving a bus, a truck and a car occurred, in which at least 37 people died. EFE reported this with regards to the security forces.

Initially, 22 casualties were reported, but the number of victims rose during the rescue efforts. Many bodies were found burned and trapped in metal structures.

Highway police said the death toll was “preliminary” because the fire caused by the accident made it difficult to identify the bodies.

The accident occurred on a section of the BR-116 highway near the municipality of Teofila Otoni. According to preliminary information, the driver of the bus carrying about 45 passengers lost control after a “large granite block” fell from a passing truck and crashed into the bus.

After the impact, the bus caught fire and was completely consumed by fire. The car also crashed into the back of the truck. Three passengers in the car survived but were seriously injured.

13 bus passengers were rescued. The victims were taken to local hospitals for treatment.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva expressed deep regret over the tragedy, and said he was praying for the victims and their families. In his statement, he stressed that the federal government is ready to provide all the necessary assistance to the municipality of Teofilo Otoni and the government of the state of Minas Gerais.

Minas Gerais Governor Romeu Zema said he ordered the mobilization of all the resources of the regional authorities to quickly respond to the incident. He said security forces have been working continuously since the accident.

Also on Saturday, a triple accident involving a bus occurred in the Odessa region, two people were injured.

Earlier on Saturday, it became known about a fatal accident in the Vinnytsia region involving a car and a truck. In the city of Gaysin, three people died and four were injured.