A weekend collision between a passenger bus and truck in southeastern Brazil has resulted in 41 deaths, marking the country’s deadliest highway accident since 2007.

The Civil Police confirmed on Sunday that “41 bodies” had been removed from the accident scene near the mining town of Teofilo Otoni in Minas Gerais state, up from initial reports of 38 victims.

The crash occurred Saturday, December 21, 2024, on highway BR-116. The bus, carrying 45 passengers from São Paulo to northeastern Bahia state, erupted in flames after the collision.

Two conflicting accounts of the crash have emerged from officials and witnesses. Federal police reported that “a large block of granite apparently fell from a truck traveling in the opposite direction and struck the bus,” while other authorities indicated the bus experienced a tire blowout, causing the driver to lose control.

Military police confirmed the truck driver’s license had been suspended two years ago, before he fled the scene. The victims included the bus driver and at least one child. The intensity of the fire required hours of work by rescue teams to extinguish the flames and recover victims from the wreckage.

“Rescue teams are working on the accident site and there are still more victims to be removed,” said Lt. Alonso of the fire department during the ongoing rescue operation. Thirteen survivors received treatment at hospitals near Teofilo Otoni. A car carrying three passengers also collided with the bus, though all occupants survived.

Minas Gerais Governor Romeu Zema ordered a “full mobilization” of the state government to assist survivors and families. On social media platform X, Zema stated, “We are working to ensure that families of the victims are supported to face this tragedy in the most humane way possible, especially as it comes just before Christmas.”

Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva offered federal support in a statement.

The crash site, highway BR-116, recorded 559 deaths in 2023, making it Brazil’s deadliest highway that year. The country’s Ministry of Transportation data shows more than 10,000 traffic-related fatalities in 2024.

The country has faced multiple deadly bus accidents in recent months. In November 2023, 17 people lost their lives in northeastern Alagoas state when a bus plunged into a ravine on a remote mountain road. In September 2024, a bus carrying the Coritiba Crocodiles football team overturned on their way to Rio de Janeiro, resulting in three fatalities and the cancelation of their scheduled match.