Italian authorities in Venice are investigating the cause of a tragic bus crash that occurred on Tuesday, resulting in the death of 21 people, including children, and injuring 15 others. The incident involved an electric bus carrying foreign tourists who had just returned from a day trip to Venice. The bus crashed through the guardrail and plunged more than 10 meters (33 ft) off an overpass before catching fire.
The accident took place around 8:00 p.m. (1800 GMT) on a busy road connecting Mestre to the historic center of Venice. According to Italian news agencies, the victims included four or five Ukrainians, a German tourist, and an Italian driver. Emergency services reported the deaths of a baby and a 12-year-old. Several Germans, French, Croatians, Spaniards, and Austrians were among the injured.
Veneto regional president Luca Zaia suggested that the driver may have fallen ill, while adding that witness testimonies and CCTV footage could provide further insights into the incident. Venice Chief Prosecutor Bruno Cerchi stated that it was currently difficult to establish an exact sequence of events. The wreckage of the one-year-old electric bus was cleared in the morning and continued to be monitored for potential battery-related fire hazards, as confirmed by firefighters.
Condolences poured in from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and politicians across Europe. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed sympathy, saying, “Our thoughts this evening are with the Italian people, the families, and loved ones of the victims of the terrible tragedy in Venice.”
Massimo Fiorese, the head of the bus operating company, shared his observations after reviewing video footage before the accident. He described the bus as slowing down and appearing “almost stationary” before crashing through the guardrail and falling. Fiorese speculated that the driver might have been unwell, noting that he had started his shift less than two hours prior to the crash.
The accident site revealed an overpass equipped with an older, thin metal guardrail instead of newer, more robust concrete versions. The investigation is ongoing to determine the exact cause of the crash.
(Writing by Alvise Armellini, editing by Keith Weir and Bernadette Baum)
Credit: The Star : News Feed
