A bus carrying more than 50 people fell from a bridge in Venice, Italy, leaving more than 20 dead and about 40 injured. The tragic accident occurred in the Mestre borough. The city declared a state of mourning.
The accident occurred Tuesday at approximately 7:30 p.m., when the bus fell off a bridge, causing a large fire upon impact. According to the AFP news agency, among the victims were two children and Ukrainian, German and French tourists.
ÚLTIMA HORA 21.32 h: Un mínim de 20 persones han mort i una quarantena han resultat ferides en un accident d'autobús a Venècia.
👉🏻 El vehicle s'ha precipitat des d'un pas elevat i ha caigut prop d’una línia ferroviària. pic.twitter.com/gJl46450Gw— Sergi Maraña (@SergiMaranya) October 3, 2023
The vehicle fell from an overpass near the railway station that connects to the center of Venice.
“This afternoon a great tragedy affected our community,” said Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro . “I immediately declared a state of mourning in the city in memory of the numerous victims who were on the bus. It is an apocalyptic scene, there are no words,” he added.
Likewise, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni declared: “I express my deepest condolences, and that of the entire government, for the serious accident that occurred in Mestre. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families and friends. I am in close contact with Mayor Luigi Brugnaro and Minister Matteo Piantedosi to follow the news of this tragedy.”
Esprimo il più profondo cordoglio, mio personale e del Governo tutto, per il grave incidente avvenuto a Mestre. Il pensiero va alle vittime e ai loro famigliari e amici. Sono in stretto contatto con il Sindaco @LuigiBrugnaro e con il Ministro @Piantedosim per seguire le notizie…
— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) October 3, 2023
After the accident, trains traveling between Mestre and the Santa Lucia station in Venice were blocked, and firefighters and police rushed to the scene.
The accident occurs 10 years after the most serious event of this type occurred when on July 28, 2013, a bus carrying about 50 people from the province of Naples fell 30 meters from a viaduct near Avellino. On that occasion, 38 people died.
