Venice bus crash: At least five foreign nationals among 21 killed as coach plunges off bridge in Italy
A bus crash near Italian city of Venice kills at least 21 people, including Ukrainian tourists
At least 21 people have been killed after a passenger bus plunged from an overpass near Venice in an “apocalyptic” accident, according to Italian authorities.
The vehicle was travelling from Venice to Marghera when the shocking accident took place at the overpass in Mestre on Tuesday evening.
“It completely went off the road, it flew off the bridge. It was a bus; it was a highway. We are in mourning,” Venice mayor Luigi Brugnaro told Italy’s national broadcaster RAI.
At least four Ukrainians and one German tourist were among the dead, local authorities said.
Morris Ceron, general director of the municipality of Venice, told RAI that children were among the victims of the crash and that the bus was believed to have foreigners aboard as it headed towards a campsite.
Luca Zaia, president of Italy’s Veneto region, called the bus crash “a tragedy of enormous proportions” and also confirmed that “the victims and injured are of various nationalities, not just Italians.”
He said that more than 20 ambulances had been used at the scene and also the Treviso air ambulance. The injured were taken to hospitals in Mestre, Mirano, Padua and Treviso.
Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro describes the scene as ‘apocalyptic’
Writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro described the scene as “apocalyptic”.
In a post written in Italian, Mr Brugnaro said he had ordered the city to mourn the “numerous victims” who were on the bus.
“A huge tragedy struck our community this evening,” he said.
“An apocalyptic scene, there are no words.”
Mike Bedigan4 October 2023 10:24
Venice prosecutor to conduct a review
Burno Cherchi, the chief prosecutor of Venice, said a review will be conducted today into what led to the bus accident.
“At present, we are not able to make a precise reconstruction of the events”, he said, according to Ansa news agency.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar4 October 2023 10:03
Flags fly at half mast in Venice
Flags were at half mast in Venice today as a sign of “mourning for the victims of the bus crash.
Bandiere a mezz’asta nelle sedi del Comune di Venezia in segno di lutto cittadino per le vittime dell’incidente verificatosi ieri sera a Mestre. pic.twitter.com/Lt8BHb5ymY
— Comune di Venezia (@comunevenezia) October 4, 2023
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar4 October 2023 10:00
As of Tuesday night the cause of the crash remained unclear, though Venice city councillor Renato Boraso said that one line of enquiry was that the driver of the bus had been taken ill before the incident.
The driver – a 40-year-old Italian – was among those killed.
Mike Bedigan4 October 2023 09:45
Emergency crews search Venice bus crash wreckage
Emergency crews are at the scene of a deadly bus crash in Venice, which has killed 21 people, including four children.
The bus reportedly crashed off a flyover near Venice and caught fire on Tuesday night, officials have said.
The bus broke through a barrier and plunged near railway tracks in the district of Mestre.
Emergency crews search Venice bus crash wreckage as 21 killed including four children
Emergency crews are at the scene of a deadly bus crash in Venice, which has killed 21 people, including four children. The bus reportedly crashed off a flyover near Venice and caught fire on Tuesday night, officials have said. The bus broke through a barrier and plunged near railway tracks in the district of Mestre. Among the dead are five Ukrainians, one German and the Italian driver, city prefect Michele Di Bari said. Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said a “huge tragedy” had taken place.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar4 October 2023 08:48
At least 21 people were killed – including two children – on Tuesday night after a passenger bus plunged from a overpass near Venice and burst into flames.
The vehicle, which was carrying a mixture of people returning from work and tourists, was travelling from Venice to Marghera when the shocking accident took place.
The bus fell from anoverpass in Mestre and burst into flames. The cause of the accident is yet to be determined.
Venice mayor Luigi Brugnaro told Italy’s national broadcaster RAI that the city was “in mourning”.
Mike Bedigan4 October 2023 08:12
World leaders offer condolences
“Our thoughts this evening are with the Italian people, the families and loved ones of the victims of the terrible tragedy in Venice,” wrote French president Emmanuel Macron.
“I am deeply saddened by the terrible accident of a bus in Mestre this evening. I offer my deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims at this sad time. I’m close to you,” said Charles Michel, president of the European Council.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar4 October 2023 08:00
Different nationalities among the victims of crash
According to Michele Di Bari, the local representative of the interior ministry, five of the crash victims were Ukrainians and one was German.
Italian news agency ANSA reported that the bus was also carrying passengers from France and Croatia.
The injured were taken to hospitals in Mestre, Mirano, Padua and Treviso. Italian news outlet RAI reported that translation services set up to assist the Ukrainian victims and their families.
Mike Bedigan4 October 2023 07:33
EU Commission president offers condolences
EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday said she was standing by the Italian prime minister and other leaders in the “moment of profound pain”.
“My deepest condolences to the families of the victims and those injured in the serious accident in Mestre,” she wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar4 October 2023 07:00
Watch: A bus crash near Italian city of Venice kills at least 21 people
A bus crash near Italian city of Venice kills at least 21 people, including Ukrainian tourists
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar4 October 2023 06:30
