'Screams Turned To Blood-curdling Silence': At least 21 Dead, 18 Injured After Bus Falls Off Overpass In Italy

Five of the victims were Ukrainians and one was German. The death toll could rise because several of those hurt were in critical condition.

Emergency crew members work at the scene after a bus accident near Venice in Mestre, Italy. 

Source : Getty

In a shocking incident, at least 21 people, including two children, were killed after a tour bus crashed off an overpass in the northern Italian city of Venice. 18 others were injured in the incident. Five of the victims were Ukrainians and one was German. The death toll could rise because several of those hurt were in critical condition. The bus was carrying tourists from Venice back to their campsite in Marghera after spending a day in Venice. While the details of how the accident occurred are unclear, news agency Reuters reported that the bus veered off the road and fell close to railway lines in the district of Mestre, which is connected to Venice by a bridge.

According to The Guardian report, the vehicle fell 30 metres (98ft) onto electricity lines and caught fire at about 7:45 PM (local time). The Italian driver, 40, was among those who were killed, Venice prefect Michele Di Bari said. He said that the firefighters struggled to get the bodies out as the bus “was totally crashed”.

Atleast 18 bodies were dragged from the wreckage after the coach caught fire, with numerous others injured. The bus was powered by methane, therefore the fire developed quickly

The coach had reportedly been privately hired by a campsite for its guests. The bus was carrying French and Croatian citizens as well.

An eyewitness, Leonardo said that he heard “heavy braking and assumed it was a train” but then he heard a thud and he was alarmed by the smoke and people screaming for help. When he rushed to the scene, “the screams turned into a blood-curdling silence”. While he wanted to help he was stopped by a friend and a policewoman because the bus was on fire and at risk of an explosion, The Guardian reported.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her condolences, saying in a statement that her government's thoughts were with "the victims, their families and their friends."

European Leaders Send Condolences

“Our thoughts are this evening are with the Italian people, the families and loved ones of the victims of this terrible tragedy,” said the French president, Emmanuel Macron.

Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, expressed her condolences to the families of the victims and those injured, and her thoughts to Italy’s leaders in what she described as a “moment of great pain”.