A Deadly Bus Crash in Brazil Kills 38 People
A devastating crash between a passenger bus and a truck occurred early Saturday on a highway in Minas Gerais, a state in southeastern Brazil, resulting in the deaths of 38 people. The bus, which departed from Sao Paulo and was carrying 45 passengers, crashed on the highway near the city of Teofilo Otoni.
According to the Minas Gerais fire department, 13 others were taken to hospitals near the scene with injuries. Witnesses reported that the bus blew a tire, causing the driver to lose control and collide with a truck. Others claimed that a granite block hit the bus.
A car with three passengers also collided with the bus, but all three survived. The cause of the accident is still under investigation.
Brazilian authorities have mobilized to assist the victims and their families. Governor Romeu Zema ordered “full mobilization” of the Minas Gerais government to provide support, while President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva sent his condolences to the families of the victims.
This tragic accident is one of many in Brazil, which has a high rate of traffic fatalities. According to the Ministry of Transportation, over 10,000 people died in traffic accidents in 2024. In September, a bus carrying a football team flipped on a road, killing three people. The game was canceled following the accident.