tour bus crash in italy 2023

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A bus of tourists in Venice dropped from an elevated road, killing 21 in fiery crash

The Associated Press

Emergency services personnel work at the scene of a passenger bus crash that killed 21 people and injured at least 15 others in Venice, Italy, on Tuesday night. Slow Press/LiveMedia/LaPresse via AP hide caption

Emergency services personnel work at the scene of a passenger bus crash that killed 21 people and injured at least 15 others in Venice, Italy, on Tuesday night.

VENICE — A bus carrying dozens of people plummeted 15 meters (50 feet) from an elevated road in Venice, causing a fiery crash that killed 21 people and injured at least 15, mostly foreign tourists returning to a nearby campsite.

Those who died in the Tuesday night crash included at least five Ukrainians, one German citizen and the man who was driving the bus, according to the Venice prefecture.

At least two of the dead were children, Venice prefect Michele Di Bari said, adding that many of the people involved in the accident were "young." Nine people were in critical condition, hospital officials said later on Wednesday morning, including a 3-year-old girl from Ukraine.

Firefighters worked until dawn Wednesday to clear the wreckage. Later in the morning, traffic was slowly passing the spot where the bus burst through a guardrail and a rusted fence.

Bus carrying high school students to band camp crashes, killing 2 adults

The accident scene drew the attention of passersby. A couple of locals said that the overpass was more than 60 years old and that nothing similar had ever happened there, while a man wearing a biker jacket stopped his motorcycle to tie to a post a bouquet of plastic flowers.

The bus was carrying foreign tourists from Venice's Piazzale Roma to the Hu campground on Tuesday evening when it fell from an elevated street next to railway tracks in the borough of Mestre, catching fire. Tourists frequently stay in boroughs across the lagoon from the canals of Venice's famous historic center to find cheaper accommodations.

The injured included French, Spanish, Austrian and Croatian nationals, local officials said. The Spanish Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that two people from Spain were injured in the accident, and both were in hospital and in good condition.

The French Foreign Ministry confirmed on Wednesday that there was a French national among the injured. Hospital psychologists were working to help the victims deal with the trauma.

The Italian driver, Alberto Rizzotto, was killed in the crash. Venice city councilor Renato Boraso said he was an experienced driver, and local prosecutors are investigating if he felt ill.

Veneto region's governor Luca Zaia said on Wednesday that the dynamic of the accident remained hard to decipher. "Everything makes one think of an illness,″ Zaia said. "The driver was an expert, a good person, very well referenced."

Rescuers noted that the fact that the bus was electric contributed to the massive fire and made rescue operations more difficult.

A witness describes the scene immediately after the crash

Godstime Erheneden was in his apartment near the site when he heard a crash. He rushed outside and was among the first to enter the bus.

"When we went in, we saw the driver right away. He was dead. I carried a woman out on my shoulders, then a man," Erheneden told the local newspaper il Gazzettino.

"The woman was screaming, 'my daughter, my daughter,' and I went back in. I saw this girl who must have been 2 years old. I have a son who is a year and 10 months old, and they are the same size. I felt like I was holding my son in my arms. It was terrible. I don't know if she survived. I thought she was alive but when the rescuers arrived, they took her away immediately," Erheneden said.

Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the scene was "apocalyptic" and declared a state of mourning.

In 2017, 16 people on a bus carrying Hungarian students died in an accident near the northern city of Verona. And in 2013, 40 people were killed in one of Italy's worst vehicle accidents when a bus plunged off a viaduct close to the southern city of Avellino.

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Bus crash across lagoon from Venice’s historic center kills 21 people, including Ukrainian tourists

Emergency services attend the scene of a passenger bus accident near the city of Venice, Italy, that fell from an elevated road, late Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023, near Venice, Italy. Italian authorities say multiple people have been killed and others injured in a bus crash near Venice. The crash happened Tuesday when the bus fell from an elevated street in the Mestre borough on the mainland opposite the old city of Venice. (Slow Press/LiveMedia/LaPresse via AP)

Italian firefighters work at the scene of a passenger bus accident in Mestre, near the city of Venice, Italy, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023. The bus fell from an elevated road, late Tuesday, killing multiple people. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Italian firefighters work at the scene of a passenger bus accident in Mestre, near Venice, Italy, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023. According to local media, the bus fell a few meters from an elevated rod before crashing Tuesday close to Mestre’s railway tracks, where it caught fire. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Italian firefighters work at the scene of a passenger bus accident in Mestre, near Venice, Italy, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023. According to local media, the bus fell a few meters from an elevated road before crashing Tuesday close to Mestre’s railway tracks, where it caught fire.

Emergency services work at the scene of a passenger bus accident near the city of Venice, Italy, that fell from an elevated road, late Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023. Italian authorities say multiple people have been killed and others injured in the bus crash. The crash happened Tuesday when the bus fell from an elevated street in the Mestre borough on the mainland opposite the old city of Venice. (Slow Press/LiveMedia/LaPresse via AP)

Emergency services attend the scene of a passenger bus accident near the city of Venice, Italy, that fell from an elevated road, late Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023. Italian authorities say multiple people have been killed and others injured in a bus crash near Venice. The crash happened Tuesday when the bus fell from an elevated street in the Mestre borough on the mainland opposite the old city of Venice. (Slow Press/LiveMedia/LaPresse via AP)

A bus fell from an elevated street and crashed killing multiple people and injuring others in the Mestre suburb of Venice, Italy, Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023. (Slow Press/LiveMedia/LaPresse via AP)

In this image made available by Italian State Police, Italian state police agents attend the scene of a passenger bus accident near the city of Venice, Italy, that fell from an elevated road, late Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023, killing at least 21 people near the northern city of Venice. The Venice prefect said that 15 passengers survived. (Italian State Police via AP)

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ROME (AP) — At least 21 people were killed and 18 injured in a fiery bus crash in a borough of Venice, Italy, across the lagoon from its historic center, where firefighters and other emergency responders worked into the night trying to extract bodies and squelch the flames.

The bus was carrying foreign tourists, including Ukrainians, according to a Venice official, when it fell from an elevated street Tuesday in Mestre en route to a camping site near the community of Marghera.

“The people in the bus found themselves surrounded by flames,” said Mauro Luongo, commander of the Venice firefighters team. “The scene we found was terrible. It took about one hour to extract some of the bodies.”

Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, that the crash scene was “apocalyptic” and declared the city in a state of mourning.

Four of the injured were in serious condition following the accident, which happened on the mainland just 9 km (3.7 miles) northwest of the old city of Venice, said Renato Boraso, a Venice city official. Two of the dead were children, Venice prefect Michele Di Bari said.

The injured were transferred to five different hospitals in the region.

According to local media, the bus fell a few meters before crashing close to Mestre’s railway tracks, where it caught fire.

The Veneto region governor, Luca Zaia, told RAI state television that the cause of the accident was still unclear.

“This is an important tragedy, but it’s difficult to understand how it happened,” he said. “The bus was new and electric, and that street wasn’t particularly problematic.”

In 2017, 16 people on a bus carrying Hungarian students died in an accident near the northern city of Verona. And in 2013, 40 people were killed in one of Italy’s worst vehicle accidents when a bus plunged off a viaduct close to the southern city of Avellino.

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Venice pursues homicide investigation after 21 people die in coach crash – as it happened

Chief prosecutor Bruno Cherchi says he is proceeding with road multiple homicide investigation after tourist bus crashed off overpass in northern Italy

• 4 Oct 2023 Summary of the day
• 4 Oct 2023 Venice pursues homicide investigation
• 4 Oct 2023 Everything points to driver illness, senior official says
• 4 Oct 2023 Three days of formal mourning requested
• 4 Oct 2023 Salvini says no problem with guard rail
• 4 Oct 2023 Watch: Video report on fatal crash near Venice
• 4 Oct 2023 Bus company puts focus on infrastructure
• 4 Oct 2023 Eight people in intensive care, 2 in critical condition
• 4 Oct 2023 Citizens of six countries among injured
• 4 Oct 2023 Twenty-one dead, 15 injured after coach veers off overpass near Venice
• 4 Oct 2023 Prosector says review to be conducted today

Venice pursues homicide investigation

The Venice prosecutor Bruno Cherchi said he was proceeding with a multiple road homicide investigation into the bus crash.

Speaking at a press conference, Cherchi said an autopsy on the driver’s body would be important for the case, Rai reported .

DNA tests would be carried out in circumstances when the identity of victims was unclear, he added.

Only three or four survivors were able to speak at the moment, according to the prosecutor.

This post was amended on Wednesday 4 October to clarify a translation of the prosecutor’s comments.

Summary of the day

21 people have died and 15 were injured after a tourist coach crashed off an overpass near Venice in northern Italy.

The victims include three minors.

Some of the injured remain hospitalised in intensive care. The people injured include citizens of Ukraine, Spain, Austria, Croatia, Germany and France.

An investigation is ongoing.

A discussion emerged over the state of the guard rails on the road where the accident took pace.

Condolences coming in from around the world

On behalf of the U.S. Diplomatic Mission to Italy I extend our heartfelt condolences to the victims of the tragic accident in Mestre. Our thoughts are with the families, loved ones, and the communities affected by this terrible tragedy. — Ambassador Jack Markell (@USAmbItaly) October 4, 2023

Devastated by the terrible bus accident in #Mestre . On this day of grief, our deepest condolences go out to the families and loved ones of the victims. We wish those injured a speedy and complete recovery. @ItalyMFA @Antonio_Tajani — MFA Austria (@MFA_Austria) October 4, 2023

My deepest condolences to the 🇮🇹 President @Quirinale and Prime Minister @GiorgiaMeloni on the tragic bus accident near Venice. Thoughts of all 🇱🇹 people go out to the victims and their families. We are with you in this difficult hour and we wish you all the strength possible. — Gitanas Nausėda (@GitanasNauseda) October 3, 2023

I was deeply shocked by the tragic bus accident that happened last night near Venice. My deepest condolences to @GiorgiaMeloni and the people of #Italy . Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims. — Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) October 4, 2023

Mourning in Italy

Everything points to driver illness, senior official says

Luca Zaia, the president of the Veneto region, said everything pointed to a scenario where the driver became ill. However, Zaia said it was too early to reach conclusions, Rai reported .

An investigation is ongoing, with officials hoping that technical work, cameras and testimonies will help them understand what happened.

Three days of formal mourning requested

The Venice prefect, Michele Di Bari , said today that the local council and the Veneto regional government had requested three days of mourning, Ansa reported .

Salvini says no problem with guard rail

Matteo Salvini , Italy’s deputy prime minister and minister of infrastructure and transport, has weighed in on the tragedy.

The politician said it was not a guard rail problem, Rai reported . And while he noted that it was too early to comment, Salvini also said he heard electric batteries caught fire faster and there was a need to reflect on the issue.

Watch: Video report on fatal crash near Venice

Bus company puts focus on infrastructure

Massimo Fiorese , the chief executive of the transport company that owned the bus that crashed, said this morning the vehicle appeared to have been leaning on a railing, TGcom24 reported .

His comments add to speculation about the quality of infrastructure on the stretch of road where the accident took place.

Eight people in intensive care, 2 in critical condition

Eight people are still in intensive care, with two in a critical condition, according to Italy’s emergency services, Rai news has reported .

These include a four-year-old girl, who is in a critical condition with severe burns.

A municipal official weighed in this morning saying there had been plans to renovate the overpass and put in a new guardrail, TGcom24 reported .

Flags at half mast in Venice today

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

Citizens of six countries among injured

The Venice prefect, Michele Di Bari , said among the 15 injured people were four Ukrainian citizens, two Spanish citizens, two Austrians, one Croatian, one German and one French citizen, Rai reported .

Four injured people in intensive care

Four people between the ages of 20 and 30 are in intensive care, TGcom24 reports .

Prosector says review to be conducted today

Venice’s chief prosecutor, Bruno Cherchi, said a review of what happened to the bus will be done today, noting that at the moment it is not possible to precisely reconstruct what happened, Ansa reports.

Twenty-one dead, 15 injured after coach veers off overpass near Venice

At least 21 people have died and 15 were injured after a tourist coach crashed off an overpass near Venice in northern Italy.

The coach was carrying a group of tourists who were returning to a campsite in Marghera after spending the day in Venice , according to reports in the Italian media.

Officials said the vehicle fell 30 metres (98ft) on to electricity lines and caught fire at about 7.45pm local time.

Those onboard included Ukrainian, German and French citizens, according to Venice prefect Michele Di Bari. Two of the dead were children. The Italian driver, aged 40, was also killed, Di Bari said.

Read the full story and stay tuned for updates.

The wreckage of the bus that crashed off an overpass near Venice was removed overnight, Ansa reported .

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At least 21 dead after Italian bus carrying tourists falls from Venice overpass

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Additional reporting by Emilio Parodi, Gavin Jones, Keith Weir and Alvise Armellini; Writing by Gavin Jones and Crispian Balmer; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Rosalba O'Brien

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At least 21 dead after tour bus plunges off overpass near Venice, Italian officials say

A city official said the bus was bringing tourists to a camping site, by giada zampano | associated press • published october 3, 2023 • updated on october 3, 2023 at 2:51 pm.

A bus carrying foreign tourists including Ukrainians crashed near the Italian city of Venice when it fell from an elevated street Tuesday, killing at least 21 people and injuring 18 others, authorities said.

Four of the injured were in serious condition following the accident in the Mestre borough, on the mainland opposite the historic old city of Venice, said Renato Boraso, a Venice city official. Two of the dead were children, Venice prefect Michele Di Bari said.

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Boraso confirmed that some of the victims are Ukrainians, and said the bus was bringing tourists to a camping site.

Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that the scene of the crash was “apocalyptic” and that he had already declared the “city's mourning" for the “numerous victims” who were on the bus.

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According to local media, the bus fell a few meters before crashing close to Mestre's railway tracks, where it caught fire. Emergency crews were on the scene.

Premier Giorgia Meloni expressed her “deepest sorrow” after the crash.

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More than 20 killed after Italian tourist bus crashes off Venice overpass

Bus carrying some 40 passengers veered off elevated overpass, plunged about 15 metres and caught fire, officials report.

More than 20 people have been killed and 18 injured after a bus carrying foreign tourists crashed off an elevated overpass, plunged some 15 metres (50 feet) and caught fire near Venice in northern Italy, officials said.

The bus veered off the road on Tuesday evening at approximately 7:45pm local time (17:45 GMT), crashed through a barrier, plummeted onto electricity lines and caught fire, according to reports.

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What caused the horrific accident was unclear.

Venice City Councillor Renato Boraso said the bus had been carrying 40 passengers, 21 of whom had died and 18 who were injured.

Boraso warned that the death toll could rise as several of those hurt in the crash were in a critical condition in hospital.

“It’s an appalling tragedy, the city is in mourning,” Boraso told Sky Italia television.

“An apocalyptic scene, there are no words,” Venice’s Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said in a post on social media.

Official mourning has been declared in Venice in memory of the victims, the mayor said.

Un’immane tragedia ha colpito questa sera la nostra comunità. Ho disposto da subito il lutto cittadino, in memoria delle numerose vittime che erano nell’autobus caduto. Una scena apocalittica, non ci sono parole. pic.twitter.com/APnsQoPMkL — Luigi Brugnaro (@LuigiBrugnaro) October 3, 2023

[Unofficial translation: A huge tragedy struck our community this evening. I immediately ordered the city to mourn, in memory of the numerous victims who were on the fallen bus. An apocalyptic scene, there are no words. ]

Five of the victims were Ukrainians and one was German, said Venice’s prefect Michele Di Bari, the local representative of the interior ministry. The bus was also carrying passengers from France and Croatia, Italian news agency ANSA reported.

“The bus is totally crushed. The firefighters had difficulty getting a lot of the bodies out,” Di Bari told Sky Italia television. He said two children were among the victims.

Late on Tuesday evening, rescuers were still struggling to remove the wreckage of the bus to make sure no more passengers were trapped inside.

“The scene the firemen had to deal with was really difficult, really bad,” said Al Jazeera’s Alexandra Byers.

The Veneto region governor, Luca Zaia, told RAI state television that the cause of the accident was still unclear.

“This is an important tragedy, but it’s difficult to understand how it happened,” Zaia said. “The bus was new and electric, and that street wasn’t particularly problematic.”

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”.

Italy has been the scene of a number of deadly bus crashes in recent years.

In 2017, 16 people on board a bus carrying Hungarian students died in an accident near the northern city of Verona, while 40 people died in 2013 when a bus plunged off a viaduct in southern Italy.