Bus crashes in north-eastern Brazil, killing 15 people, say police | Brazil
A passenger bus crashed into a sandbar and rolled onto its side in northeastern Brazil, killing 15 people, local authorities said.
Police said on Saturday that the bus was carrying about 30 passengers, but the number of injured people who were taken to nearby hospitals was not yet clear. The vehicle left the state of Bahia and crashed in the city of Saloá in the neighboring state of Pernambuco.
Police said the driver lost control of the bus, crossed into the opposite lane and crashed into rocks on the side of the road. He then turned into the correct lane but hit a sandbar, causing the vehicle to overturn.
The cause of the accident is being investigated. Police said the driver suffered minor injuries and tested negative for alcohol.
Bahia Governor Jerônimo Teixeira said on channel X that his administration supported the rescue efforts and the identification of the victims. “I am monitoring the situation with my team and am deeply saddened by the loss of life, injuries and pain of all families,” he wrote.
According to data from the Ministry of Transport, more than 10,000 people died in traffic accidents in Brazil in 2024.
In April, 11 people, including two children, died when a passenger bus overturned in southeastern Brazil. In February, a bus carrying university students collided with a truck on a highway in São Paulo state, killing 12 passengers. Last September, a bus carrying the Coritiba Crocodiles football team rolled over on the road, killing three people.
