Bus-Lorry collision in Brazil leaves 38 dead, several injured

A devastating collision between a bus and a lorry in Minas Gerais, Brazil, has left at least 38 people dead, with 13 others injured and hospitalized, authorities confirmed. The tragic incident occurred near Teófilo Otoni city in the early hours of Saturday.

Fire department officials reported that the bus, which had departed from São Paulo with 45 passengers, lost control after blowing a tyre. The vehicle then veered into an oncoming lorry, leading to a fiery crash. Another car also collided with the wreckage, but its three occupants survived the ordeal.

Images from the accident site on highway BR-116 showed mangled metal, bus seats ripped apart, and personal belongings scattered across the road. A firefighter on the scene noted that rescue efforts were complicated, requiring cranes to access parts of the wreckage where victims were trapped.

Minas Gerais governor Romeu Zema described the crash as a "tragic accident" and expressed his condolences on X, formerly Twitter. Zema also announced a full mobilization of security forces and offered aircraft support to aid the rescue and recovery efforts.

“We are working to provide humane support to the families of the victims, especially during this significant time of Christmas,” the governor said. Emergency responders have been working since dawn to assist survivors and recover the deceased.

The accident highlights Brazil's persistent road safety issues. The country had a road traffic death rate of 15.7 per 100,000 people in 2021, much higher than its regional neighbor Argentina. Brazil’s ministry of transport has set an ambitious goal to halve road fatalities by 2030, potentially saving thousands of lives.

In a separate incident earlier this year, a bus carrying a professional American football team overturned, killing three. These recurring accidents underline the urgent need for enhanced safety measures on Brazil’s roadways.