Brazil: At least 17 people were killed after a passenger bus crashed into a sand embankment and overturned in north-eastern Brazil, local authorities confirmed.
The bus, which had departed from the state of Bahia, was carrying around 30 passengers when it lost control and flipped on its side in the city of Saloá, located in the neighbouring state of Pernambuco. The number of injured remains unclear, but several victims were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
According to police reports, the driver lost control of the vehicle, crossed into the opposite lane, struck roadside rocks, and then veered back before hitting a sand embankment, causing the bus to overturn. Police said the driver sustained minor injuries and tested negative for alcohol. The cause of the crash stays under investigation.
Bahia Governor Jerônimo Teixeira expressed his condolences on social media platform X, saying his administration is assisting with rescue operations and victim identification. Jerônimo Teixeira stated that, “I am following the situation with my team and deeply mourn the loss of lives, the injuries and the suffering of all the families.”
Traffic accidents are a major cause of fatalities in Brazil, with over 10,000 people dying on the country’s roads in 2024, according to the transport ministry. Earlier this year, Brazil witnessed multiple deadly bus crashes, including incidents in April and February that claimed over 20 lives combined.
Tragedy adds to a string of fatal road accidents across Brazil this year, underscoring ongoing concerns over road safety and infrastructure in several regions. Authorities have vowed to carry out a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of the crash and to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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