A bus plummeted 15 meters from an elevated road in Venice, killing 21 people in a fiery crash

29

A bus transporting numerous individuals fell 50 feet (15 meters) from an elevated thoroughfare in Venice, Italy, resulting in a catastrophic fire that led to the death of 21 passengers and left a minimum of 15 injured. These were primarily international tourists en route back to a neighboring campsite.

Among the deceased in the tragic incident that took place on a Tuesday evening were at least five Ukrainian citizens, a German national, and the bus driver, as confirmed by the Venice prefecture office.

Michele Di Bari, the Venice prefect, disclosed that a minimum of two fatalities were minors and added that a significant portion of those affected by the tragedy were young. Nine individuals are in critical medical condition as of Wednesday morning, including a three-year-old Ukrainian girl, according to healthcare authorities.

Emergency response teams labored until the early hours of Wednesday morning to remove the debris. Subsequently, vehicular movement cautiously resumed past the location where the bus had shattered a guardrail and a corroded fence.

Onlookers paused to reflect on the calamity. Some local residents mentioned that the overpass was constructed over six decades ago, and nothing of this sort had previously occurred there. Another individual, donned in a motorcycle jacket, halted his bike to fasten a bouquet of synthetic flowers to a post.

The bus was ferrying tourists from the Piazzale Roma in Venice to the Hu campground on the ill-fated Tuesday evening. It was on an elevated road adjacent to train tracks in the Mestre district when it descended and caught fire. Tourists often opt for lodging in districts located across the lagoon from Venice’s renowned historical center due to more affordable rates.

Local officials indicated that the injured, five of whom are in serious condition, comprise French, Spanish, Austrian, and Croatian nationals. The Spanish Foreign Ministry confirmed that two Spanish citizens were among the injured and are currently hospitalized but in stable condition.

The cause of the incident remains indeterminate. Renato Boraso, a Venice city councilor, noted that the driver, identified as Alberto Rizzotto, was seasoned. An inquiry is underway to ascertain whether he suffered from a medical condition at the time.

Rescue personnel pointed out that the bus’s electric nature intensified the blaze and complicated the rescue process.

A local resident, Godstime Erheneden, described his immediate response upon hearing the collision. He was one of the first to enter the wrecked bus and assisted in the rescue of a man and a woman. He recalled the traumatic experience of retrieving a toddler from the bus, likening it to holding his own young son.

Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro described the scene as “apocalyptic” on social media platform X, previously known as Twitter, and declared an official period of mourning.

This incident echoes past tragedies involving buses in Italy, including an accident near Verona in 2017 that resulted in 16 deaths among Hungarian students, and another in 2013 near Avellino, which claimed 40 lives in one of the country’s most devastating vehicular accidents.

This report includes contributions from AP journalist Giada Zampano in Rome.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Venice bus accident

More about Venice bus accident

• Venice Bus Accident: Full Story
• Venice Prefecture Office Statements on Accident
• Emergency Response in Venice: An Overview
• Recent Road Accidents in Italy: A Comparative Analysis
• Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro’s Statement on Social Media
• Eyewitness Accounts: Interviews and Statements
• Spanish Foreign Ministry’s Press Release on Injured Citizens
• Hospital Officials Update on Injured Passengers
• Traffic and Infrastructure Safety Measures in Venice
• Investigation Procedures for Vehicular Accidents in Italy