A devastating road accident claimed the lives of at least 25 people in northeastern Brazil following a collision between a tourist bus and a mango truck.
The collision happened near Gaviao, in the state of Bahia, on BR-324 highway around 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 7, 2024. This incident is the latest addition to the increasing number of fatal bus accidents in Brazil.
The bus, coming back from Guarajuba beach, was on the way to Jacobina when it crashed head-on with the truck carrying mangoes, as per the Bahia State Fire Department.
The crash resulted in the death of all three truck occupants and 22 bus passengers.
Among the deceased bus passengers, there were 17 women, including one pregnant, and eight men. The death toll, initially reported as 24, increased to 25 after the loss of one more passenger.
Six individuals suffered injuries of different degrees and were transferred to four separate hospitals in the vicinity.
Information about the victims’ nationalities and the precise reason for the collision is still unclear. The local authorities have initiated an investigation into the incident.
The mayor’s office in Jacobina announced three days of official mourning starting Monday. Arrangements are being made for a collective wake to honor the victims and support the bereaved community.
Video footage from the scene depicts the truck surrounded by scattered blue boxes of mangoes, with several firefighters working amidst the wreckage.
This incident reflects previous fatal bus accidents in Brazil. In August 2023, seven fans of the Sao Paulo Corinthians football team died in a crash in southeastern Brazil after attending a match.
In March 2022, a bus carrying a group of workers veered off a highway in southern Brazil, resulting in at least ten deaths and several injuries.
The federal highway police, who are participating in the ongoing investigation, suggested that the head-on collision might have occurred while one of the vehicles was trying to overtake another, but this has not yet been confirmed.
With its extensive network of roads and highways, Brazil has been the site of numerous such tragic incidents, sparking concerns about road safety and vehicle standards in the country.
The community of Jacobina and the state of Bahia are mourning the loss of lives in this devastating accident as the investigation into the cause and circumstances leading to the collision continues.