A tragic incident unfolded in northeastern Brazil when a passenger bus crashed into a sand embankment, resulting in the death of at least 17 individuals, as confirmed by authorities. The accident occurred on Saturday, October 18, with the bus carrying around 30 passengers at the time, according to police reports. The exact number of injured passengers, who were promptly transported to nearby medical facilities, remains unknown.
The bus, identified as a “tourist bus” by Police Chief Luciano Holanda, was en route to the city of Brumado when it crashed in Saloá, a city in Pernambuco state. The driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle, veered into the opposite lane, collided with rocks on the roadside, and subsequently overturned after hitting a sand embankment.
Several passengers were ejected from the bus during the rollover due to the absence of seat belts. The bus had been returning from Brumado in Bahia state to Santa Cruz do Capibaribe in Pernambuco’s Agreste region when the tragic incident took place. Governor Jerônimo Teixeira of Bahia expressed his support for rescue operations and victim identification, expressing deep sorrow for the lives lost and the anguish faced by affected families.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, with the driver sustaining minor injuries and testing negative for alcohol, as reported by the authorities. According to the Ministry of Transportation, over 10,000 individuals lost their lives in traffic accidents in Brazil in 2024.