Officials have said that at least twenty-one people including several children have died after a bus crashed off a flyover near Venice and burst into flames.
The bus broke through a barrier and plunged almost fifty feet near railway tracks in the district of Mestre, which is connected to Venice by a bridge.
Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said a huge tragedy had taken place.
“An apocalyptic scene, there are no words,” he said on social media.
According to city prefect Michele Di Bari, five Ukrainians, one German and the Italian driver were among the dead while Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said a huge tragedy had taken place.
Emergency services said that three children including a baby were among the dead while Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said that the toll could rise.
One man called Leonardo said he heard the sound of strong braking before the sound of the crash, and he rushed to find out what had happened. “I wanted to help,” he told La Presse website, “but I was prevented by a friend of mine and a policewoman because the bus was still in flames and in danger of blowing up.”
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