BRASILIA: At least 25 people were killed when a bus collided with a truck in Bahia state, northeastern Brazil, as confirmed by state firefighters on Monday. The tragic accident occurred approximately 155 miles (250 kilometers) from the capital of Bahia, Salvador.
Video footage captured during the night showed the aftermath of the collision, with the truck surrounded by blue boxes filled with mangoes scattered on the ground. Multiple firefighters were seen working at the accident site to manage the aftermath.
Details provided by Brazilian press reports indicated that five persons sustained injuries in the accident, which took place on Sunday night. Images released by the media portrayed the twisted fuselage of the truck, underscoring the severity of the collision.
The precise cause of the accident remains unknown, and authorities are actively investigating the circumstances leading to the tragic incident. The bodies of the victims have been handed over to the police for identification.
Three Days Mourning Announced in Brazil’s Jacobina City
The mayor’s office of Jacobina, a city in close proximity to the accident site, has declared three days of official mourning as a gesture of condolence and solidarity with the affected families. Additionally, preparations are underway for a “collective wake” to honor the memory of the victims.
“The prefecture expresses its sincere condolences to the families and friends of the victims in this moment of unprecedented sadness and pain,” stated a note posted on Instagram by the mayor’s office.
This accident adds to a series of accidents involving buses with multiple fatalities in Brazil. Last August, seven fans of the Sao Paulo-based Corinthians football club lost their lives in a highway accident in the southeast of the country. Another incident in March 2022 resulted in at least 10 fatalities and two dozen injuries when a bus carrying workers plunged off a highway in southern Brazil.
