Venice - On Tuesday, a tragic incident unfolded near Venice in northern Italy, where at least 21 individuals lost their lives, and 18 others sustained injuries following a bus carrying tourists to a campground careening off an overpass and igniting, according to city officials.
The bus departed from the roadway, ultimately plummeting near railway tracks in the Mestre district, which is connected to Venice via a bridge. The precise cause of the accident remained unclear. Renato Boraso, a Venice city councillor, mentioned that one potential lead of inquiry was the possibility that the driver, a 40-year-old Italian who was among the casualties, had fallen ill before the crash. Boraso conveyed his sentiments on Sky Italia television, describing it as a harrowing tragedy that had cast the city into mourning.
The coach accommodated a total of 40 passengers, out of which 21 had tragically lost their lives, and 18 had suffered injuries. The death toll might increase because several of the injured passengers were in critical condition. The injured individuals were transported to nearby hospitals, with four reported to be in a severe state.
Authorities disclosed that the bus descended approximately 15 meters (50 feet), coming into contact with electricity lines before catching fire at around 7:45 p.m. local time (1745 GMT). Of the victims, five were Ukrainians, and one was of German nationality, as specified by Venice's prefect Michele Di Bari, the local representative of the interior ministry. The bus also had passengers from France and Croatia, according to the Italian news agency ANSA.
"The bus is completely mangled. The firefighters encountered challenges while extracting numerous bodies," stated Di Bari during an interview on Sky Italia television. He noted that among the victims, there were two children. Late into the evening on Tuesday, rescue teams were still grappling with the removal of the bus wreckage to ensure that no additional passengers were trapped inside.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni conveyed her condolences, stating in an official statement that the government's thoughts were with the victims, their families, and friends.
Italy has witnessed several fatal bus accidents in recent years. In 2017, 16 people lost their lives in an accident involving a bus carrying Hungarian students near the northern city of Verona. Additionally, in 2013, 40 individuals perished when a bus careened off a viaduct in southern Italy.