At least 21 people died after a city bus carrying tourists to a campground fell from an overpass near Venice in northern Italy, the officials said on Wednesday. The accident occurred when the bus was bringing tourists to a camping site on the mainland opposite the historic old city of Venice, they added.
The bus caught fire after the accident, said the city's prefect Michele Di Bari.
Over 18 passengers have been injured, authorities said.
Renato Boraso, a Venice city official, said that four people got critically injured in the accident.
Some of the victims were Ukrainians, Boraso added.
"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," Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro wrote on X.
According to local media, the bus fell a few metres before crashing close to Mestre's railway tracks, where it caught fire.
Emergency teams were on the scene to rescue people stuck inside the bus.
Premier Giorgia Meloni expressed her “deepest sorrow” after the crash.
(With AP inputs)
