São Paulo, Dec 22 (EFE).- The death toll from a bus crash in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais has risen to 41, regional police reported Sunday.
A total of 11 bodies have been identified from Saturday’s accident, although security forces have not said how long it will take to identify the rest because the bus and two other vehicles involved are totally or partially burned by the fire that broke out after the accident.
Initially, firefighters had reported 22 dead, a figure that increased as the rescue work progressed.
The civil police of Minas Gerais confirmed in a press conference that the main line of investigation is that the accident was caused by a block of granite that fell from a truck traveling in the opposite direction, hitting the bus, which then burst into flames with 45 engers on board.
A car then collided with the truck, but its three engers survived with serious injuries, the fire department reported on Saturday.
Police are now looking for the truck driver, who fled the scene. His license was reportedly suspended in 2022 after he refused to undergo a breathalyzer test.
In addition, the vehicle was carrying excess weight, so the driver may face criminal liability, according to security forces.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva offered prayers for “the recovery of the survivors of this terrible tragedy.”
The accident, which occurred on a curved section of the federal highway BR 116 as it es through the municipality of Teófilo Otoni, is one of the deadliest ed in Brazil.
The government of Minas Gerais said in a statement that it remains mobilized to provide the “necessary responses” to the tragedy. EFE
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