At least 16 people, including four children, were killed on Tuesday when a bus returning from a religious festival crashed in north-east Brazil, authorities said.
The bus, which was carrying about 60 passengers, veered off the road on a curve and overturned in the rural interior of Alagoas state, ejecting some passengers while trapping others beneath the wreckage.
In a statement, the Alagoas regional government said the victims included seven women, five men, and four children, describing the accident as “highly complex” and confirming that investigations into the cause are ongoing.
Local media reported that the bus had been returning from celebrations for Our Lady of Candelaria, a religious festival held annually on February 2 in the state of Ceará, which attracts thousands of pilgrims.
“The bus went off the road on a curve, overturned, and some people were thrown out,” said Colonel André Madeiro, director of the Alagoas Aviation Department, which participated in the rescue operation.
“Some were trapped under the vehicle. It was a very bad accident, even atypical,” he told a press conference.
Survivors, including a seriously injured child, were rushed to nearby hospitals, where they remain under medical care.
Following the tragedy, Alagoas Governor Paulo Dantas declared three days of mourning in the state.
“I express my solidarity with the families and friends at this time of such great pain,” Dantas said in a message posted on X.
Deadly road accidents are common in Brazil. In October last year, at least 17 people were killed in a similar bus crash in the neighbouring north-eastern state of Pernambuco, when a driver lost control of the vehicle.
