Seventeen people tragically lost their lives when a bus careened down a steep slope and flipped onto its roof. The vehicle, carrying over 40 passengers, including children, suffered a mechanical malfunction that left the driver unable to maintain control.
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The bus overturned as it descended the incline, throwing several passengers from the cabin before coming to rest upside down in a densely vegetated area that rescuers described as challenging to access.
Photos from the aftermath reveal the extensive damage inflicted on the bus during the crash, which occurred on the afternoon of Sunday, November 24.
As first responders worked their way to the remote scene, local residents sprang into action, providing emergency aid to injured passengers.
The fire department later arrived with three vehicles and a helicopter, according to reports by vknews24.
A total of 29 survivors were rescued and transported to a hospital in União dos Palmares, Brazil.
Among the injured was a pregnant woman, who tragically succumbed to her injuries after arriving at the medical facility.
The bus, a school vehicle owned by União dos Palmares Municipality, had been carrying passengers en route to a cultural event at the Quilombo dos Palmares Memorial.
The memorial, which honors a 17th-century settlement of escaped slaves, is a significant historical and cultural site in Brazil.
Each November, it draws hundreds of visitors during Black Consciousness Day celebrations, commemorating the resilience and heritage of Afro-Brazilian communities.
Brazil’s Minister for Racial Equality, Anielle Franco, expressed sorrow over the tragedy, stating: “In such an important month for the entire country, celebrating Black Consciousness Month, especially for the region of Quilombo dos Palmares, this tragedy deeply saddens us.”
As of the latest reports, authorities had not released the identities of the deceased.
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SOURCE: Horror bus crash leaves 17 dead after vehicle hurtles down a steep slope and lands on the roof
