A devastating road accident in northeastern Brazil led to the deaths of 25 individuals when a tourist bus and a truck collided. The incident occurred in the late hours of Sunday, January 7, 2024, on BR-324 near Gaviao in the state of Bahia, contributing to the escalating number of fatal bus accidents in the country.

The Bahia State Fire Department reported that the bus, which was returning from a trip to Guarajuba beach, was on its way to Jacobina when it had a head-on collision with a truck carrying mangoes. The crash resulted in the immediate deaths of all three individuals in the truck and 22 passengers on the bus.

The bus was carrying 17 female passengers, including a pregnant woman, and eight men, all of whom perished in the accident. The initial count of 24 fatalities increased to 25 after one more passenger succumbed to their injuries. Six other passengers sustained injuries of differing degrees and were taken to four hospitals in the nearby area.

At this time, the nationality of the victims and the exact circumstances leading to the collision are yet to be determined. The local authorities are actively investigating the incident.

The mayor’s office in Jacobina announced a three-day mourning period starting Monday and plans are being made for a collective wake to honor the victims and support the grieving community.

Footage from the scene shows the truck surrounded by scattered blue boxes of mangoes, with firefighters working amidst the debris.

This incident is reminiscent of previous fatal bus accidents in Brazil. In August 2023, a crash resulted in the deaths of seven fans of the Sao Paulo Corinthians football team who were returning from a match. In March 2022, a bus carrying a group of workers veered off a highway in southern Brazil resulting in at least ten deaths and multiple injuries.

The federal highway police, who are part of the ongoing investigation, suggest that the head-on collision may have occurred during an overtaking maneuver, but this theory is yet to be confirmed. Brazil’s extensive network of roads and highways has been the scene of numerous such tragic incidents, sparking concerns about road safety standards and vehicle conditions in the country.