Early Saturday morning, a devastating crash between a passenger bus and a truck on a highway in Minas Gerais, Brazil, resulted in the loss of 38 lives. The incident occurred near the city of Teofilo Otoni, where the Minas Gerais fire department responded to the scene and transported 13 injured individuals to nearby hospitals.
The bus, which had departed from Sao Paulo with 45 passengers on board, reportedly suffered a tire blowout, causing the driver to lose control and collide with a truck. Witnesses also mentioned that a granite block struck the bus, further complicating the situation.
Fortunately, a car carrying three passengers was involved in the collision with the bus, but all three occupants managed to survive the impact.
Following the tragic event, Governor Romeu Zema declared a state of emergency and pledged full support from the Minas Gerais government to assist the victims and their families during this difficult time, especially as the incident occurred just before the holiday season.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed his condolences and assured that federal resources were being made available to aid in the response efforts. The President extended his prayers to the families of the deceased and wished for the swift recovery of the survivors.
According to the Ministry of Transportation, over 10,000 people lost their lives in traffic accidents in Brazil in 2024, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced road safety measures.
This tragic incident comes on the heels of another fatal bus accident in September, where a football team from Curitiba faced a similar fate while en route to a championship game in Rio de Janeiro, resulting in the cancellation of the match.
