SAO PAULO — A tragic collision between a passenger bus and a truck early Saturday morning resulted in the deaths of 38 individuals on a highway in Minas Gerais, a region located in southeastern Brazil, as reported by local authorities.
The fire department of Minas Gerais, which promptly responded to the incident, confirmed that an additional 13 people were transported to nearby hospitals in the city of Teofilo Otoni. The ill-fated bus had reportedly set out from Sao Paulo, carrying a total of 45 passengers on board.
By Saturday afternoon, officials had confirmed that all casualties from the site were accounted for, and investigations were underway to establish the circumstances leading to the crash. Eyewitness accounts suggested that a tire blowout may have caused the driver to lose control and subsequently collide with the truck. Furthermore, it was noted that a granite block may have struck the bus, as revealed by the fire department.
Additionally, a vehicle carrying three passengers also made contact with the bus; however, it was fortunate that all three individuals escaped without injuries.
In reaction to the tragedy, Governor Romeu Zema expressed his commitment via social media platform X, indicating that he had initiated a “full mobilization” of the state government to provide assistance to those affected. He emphasized the importance of offering support to the families of the victims, especially given the proximity to the Christmas holiday.
Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva also issued a statement in which he conveyed his condolences and committed federal resources to support the situation in Minas Gerais. “I deeply regret and send my prayers to the families of the more than 30 fatalities from the accident in Teófilo Otoni,” Lula stated. He further extended his hopes for a swift recovery to the survivors of this grave incident.
The Ministry of Transportation’s data revealed that in 2024, over 10,000 lives have been lost due to traffic accidents in Brazil. It is worth noting that just prior to this incident, in September, another bus mishap claimed three lives when a bus transporting a football team, the Coritiba Crocodiles, overturned while en route to a championship game in Rio de Janeiro. Consequently, that match was canceled following the deadly event.
