Bus accident kills 38 people! Fuss about the causes of the accident
Teofilo Otoni (Brazil) - Tragic bus accident in Brazil! A serious accident occurred near the town of Teófilo Otoni in the south-east of the country on Saturday (local time). At least 38 people lost their lives. Nine others had to be taken to hospital with injuries. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (79) spoke of a "terrible tragedy".
The cause of the fatal incident was initially unclear!
The federal traffic police told the AFP news agency that a granite block may have hit the bus. This is said to have come loose from a truck in the opposite lane and the driver then committed a hit-and-run.
However, the Minas Gerais Fire Department stated that a burst tire was the cause of the accident. The driver of the bus coming from São Paulo is said to have lost control and collided with a truck. Another car is then said to have crashed into the bus.
A short time later, it was reported that a landslide could also have been the cause of the accident, as a result of which the bus burst into flames. According to a fire department spokeswoman, many of the victims were charred beyond recognition. At least one child is said to be among the dead.
Brazil: Pictures show the extent of the tragic bus accident in Teofilo Otoni
Worst accident on Brazil's federal highways in 17 years
Due to the condition of many of the victims, reliable information on the exact number of fatalities is not yet possible. According to the federal traffic police, the accident in the state of Minas Gerais is the worst accident on Brazil's federal highways since 2007!
According to AFP, Romeu Zema (60), the governor of Minas Gerais, wants to "ensure that the families of the victims are cared for so that they can cope with this tragedy in the most humane way possible".
Brazil's President "Lula" also expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased. The 79-year-old announced that he would pray for "the recovery of the survivors of this terrible tragedy".