(ProsperNews.net) – An electric bus crashed and caught fire in the Italian city of Venice, killing 21 people. The tragedy occurred on October 4 near the historic center of the town, and most of those who died were tourists returning to a campsite after spending the day sightseeing. The bus was carrying 39 people, and at least two of the dead were young children.
The electric bus, which was brand new, was traveling over a bridge connecting Venice’s famous Piazzale Roma with the Hu campground in Marghera, a suburban borough. The bus fell approximately 50 feet from an elevated bridge and crashed into the street below, where it immediately caught fire. Driver Alberto Rizzotto was among the dead.
Witness Godstime Erheneden, who saw the accident from his apartment window and rushed to help, described rescuing a 2-year-old girl from the wreckage but said he doesn’t know whether she and her mother survived after being whisked away by waiting paramedics. Other witnesses reported seeing extraordinarily high flames coming from the bus, which hampered rescue efforts.
Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro called the scene “apocalyptic,” and Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi warned that the death toll is expected to rise.
The cause of the accident has not yet been determined, but local official Luca Zaia said “everything pointed” to the driver becoming ill and losing control of the vehicle; witness reports suggest Mr. Rizzotto did not apply the brakes before the vehicle veered off the bridge. Rizzotto had seven years’ experience as a driver, and the bus was less than one year old.
The day after the tragedy, officials confirmed that the dead included nine Ukrainians, three Germans, four Romanians, two Portuguese nationals, a South African national, and the Italian driver. A newly married woman from Croatia, who was on honeymoon in the iconic city, was among the dead.
Prime Minister Georgia Meloni declared three days of mourning and said her government’s thoughts and prayers were with the dead and injured.
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