A devastating accident near Venice has claimed the lives of at least 21 people, including two children, while leaving many others injured. The tragic incident occurred when a coach veered off a flyover, plummeting nearly 50 feet to the ground before bursting into flames.
Venice prefect Michele Di Bari confirmed the death toll and reported that 15 survivors were pulled from the wreckage in the suburb of Mestre.
The ill-fated coach had been chartered to transport Ukrainian tourists between Venice and a nearby campsite. Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro took to X, formerly Twitter, describing the scene as “apocalyptic” and declared the city in mourning for the “numerous victims.”
The coach came to rest close to railway lines following its violent descent at approximately 7:45 pm local time.
According to Sky Italia, rescue teams have recovered 18 bodies from the crash site, where the coach fell 15 meters (49 feet) onto electricity lines and subsequently caught fire.
The exact cause of the accident remains uncertain, although some reports suggest that the coach was powered by methane gas.
Italy’s national police force dispatched officers to the scene to conduct an investigation and provide assistance to the injured. Mayor Brugnaro expressed his deep sorrow over the tragedy, describing the incident as an “apocalyptic scene” that left him without words.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also extended her condolences, expressing profound sorrow for the severe accident in Mestre. She conveyed her sympathy to the victims’ families and friends, emphasizing that she and the government were closely monitoring the situation.
Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi warned that the death toll might increase, attributing the rapid spread of the fire to the presence of methane as a contributing factor to the tragedy.
World News