A bus crashed near the Italian city of Venice after falling from a high street, killing at least 21 people and injuring 18 others on Tuesday, Italian authorities said.
Venice official Renato Borasso said the bus was carrying foreign tourists, including Ukrainians. Borasso said the bus was taking tourists to a camping site. Italian media reported that German and French tourists were also on board the bus.
Venice Governor Michele De Bari said that two children were killed in the accident that occurred in the Mestre suburb of Venice.
Marco Sabadin/AFP via Getty Images
Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro previously wrote on Twitter that the scene of the accident was “horrific” and that he had already declared “mourning in the city” for the “many victims” on board the bus.
According to local media, the bus fell a few meters before crashing near the railway tracks in Mestre, where it caught fire. Emergency crews were at the scene. State police He said They were on site to assist the victims and “investigate.”
“The people on the bus found themselves surrounded by fire,” said Mauro Longo, commander of the Venice fire brigade. “The scene we found was horrific. It took about an hour to recover some of the bodies.”
Borasso said that four of the injured were in serious condition after the accident that occurred in the Mestre region.
A great tragedy happened to our community.
He was sent to deliver the vehicle, in memory of the many victims who were on board the bus.
Apocalytic scene, not a conditional release. pic.twitter.com/APnsQoPMkL– Luigi Brugnaro (@LuigiBrugnaro) October 3, 2023
The city of Venice confirmed on social media that all those injured had been transferred to a nearby hospital and that railway lines had been restored.
Veneto region governor Luca Zaia told RAI state television that the cause of the accident was still unclear.
He added: “This is an important tragedy, but it is difficult to understand how it happened.” “The bus was new and electric, and this street wasn’t particularly problematic.”
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her “deep sadness” after the incident. “Our thoughts are with the victims, their families and friends,” she wrote on social media.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for developments.
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