At least 38 people have died in a fatal traffic collision between a bus and truck in Minas Gerais, Brazil, according to the Associated Press. The incident occurred on highway BR-116 at around 4am when the bus’s tire blew out, causing it to crash into a lorry. Another car then collided with the bus, but all passengers survived.
Pictures taken at the scene show extensive damage and multiple vehicles involved in the wreck. A crane was needed to access parts of the bus due to expected victims still being removed. The governor of Minas Gerais, Romeu Zema, has ordered a “full mobilization” to assist victims and support their families.
Brazil’s road traffic death rate is estimated at 15.7 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021, significantly higher than countries like Argentina. The government aims to halve the number of fatalities on its roads by the end of the decade, which would save approximately 86,000 lives between 2021 and 2030.
This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the country’s efforts to improve road safety. It comes just weeks after another bus accident in September, where three people lost their lives while carrying a professional football team to a match.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/21/at-least-22-people-killed-in-tragic-bus-crash-in-brazil