At least 21 people died on Tuesday when a burning bus fell from an overpass near Venice, in northern Italy, according to the city’s mayor, Luigi Brugnaro, cited by the Italian newspaper la Repubblica.
“A great tragedy has struck our community this afternoon. I immediately ordered the city to mourn, in memory of the many victims who were on the fallen bus. An apocalyptic scene, there are no words, said Mayor Brugnaro in X about the tragic accident occurred in Mestre.
“The bus flew 30 meters” and it seems that “the aggravating factor of the situation was determined by the fact that there was a supply of methane, and therefore the fire developed quickly, Minister Piantedosi told RAI public television, before to add about the victims: “It is a very tragic and dramatic balance, but I fear that it may be destined to grow.”
Among the victims of the bus accident, which was a regular line, there are minors and citizens of various nationalities, said the president of the Venetto region, Luca Zaia.
“We are here in the middle of this great tragedy. We have already counted 20 deaths, but I suppose it is a number that is destined to increase. We are helping people,” the mayor added in statements to local television.
Following the accident, which occurred shortly after 7:30 p.m. local time (17:30 GMT), on the Vespa footbridge, numerous ambulances and fire crews gathered at the scene, while rail traffic between Mestre and the station was blocked. of Saint Lucia of Venice.
The prefecture offered a provisional assessment of the tragedy, while relief teams work at the scene of the accident, where numerous ambulances and fire vehicles gathered, according to local media.
Sky Italia reported that 18 bodies had so far been recovered from the wreckage of the burning bus, and that many other people had been injured.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Matteo Salvini, “follows the evolution of the dramatic incident in Mestre”, according to the Ministry published in a note. The Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, expressed her “deepest condolences, personally and from the entire Government, for the serious accident that occurred in Mestre. I think of the victims and their families and friends. I am in close contact with the mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro, and with the Minister (of the Interior) Matteo Piantedosi, to follow the news about this tragedy.”