The tourist bus had more than 30 passengers on board when it veered into oncoming traffic and hit an embankment before flipping – killing at least 17 people and injuring many more
A passenger bus in northeastern Brazil crashed into a sand embankment and flipped on its side, killing at least 17 people, authorities have said.
The horror crash happened on Saturday October 18 when the bus was carrying about 30 passengers, police said. The number of injured, who were taken to nearby hospitals, was not immediately clear.
The bus, which was on its way to the city of Brumado, crashed in Saloá, a city in the state of Pernambuco. Police Chief Luciano Holanda described the vehicle as a “tourist bus”.
Police said the driver lost control of the bus, crossed into the opposite lane and hit rocks on the roadside. He then returned to the correct lane but crashed into a sand embankment, causing the vehicle to overturn.
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Some of the passengers were thrown from the vehicle as it overturned because they weren’t wearing seat belts.
The bus had been returning from Brumado in the interior state of Bahia from Santa Cruz do Capibaribe in Pernambuco’s Agreste region when the accident unfolded. The passengers had been returning to Capibaribe in Pernambuco’s Agreste region.
Bahia Gov. Jernimo Teixeira said on X that his administration was supporting rescue efforts and the identification of victims.
“I am following the situation with my team and deeply mourn the loss of lives, the injuries and the suffering of all the families”, he wrote.
The cause of the crash is not yet known but it is under investigation. The driver suffered minor injuries and tested negative for alcohol, police said.
Bahia Gov. Jerônimo Teixeira said on X that his administration was supporting rescue efforts and the identification of victims. “I am following the situation with my team and deeply mourn the loss of lives, the injuries and the suffering of all the families,” he wrote.
More than 10,000 people died in traffic accidents in Brazil in 2024, according to the Ministry of Transportation.