On the evening of October 3, a major accident occurred near Venice involving a bus primarily transporting international tourists. The crash led to 21 fatalities and injured 18 individuals.
The bus was traveling towards a Marghera campsite when it unexpectedly fell off an elevated pathway, subsequently landing adjacent to the Mestre railway tracks. Shortly after, an explosion was reported.
The diverse nationalities of the victims were confirmed by the Venice prefect, Michele Di Bari. Among the deceased were two minors, five individuals from Ukraine, a German citizen, and the Italian bus driver. Venice firefighters, led by Mauro Luongo, described the difficulties faced during the rescue efforts, especially in retrieving some of the remains.
In a message shared on X, Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro reported the magnitude of the tragedy. Following the crash, the injured were rushed to five nearby hospitals. Four of these victims were in critical condition.
While the exact cause of the accident remains uncertain, the Veneto region’s governor, Luca Zaia, shared some factors in a RAI state television interview that might influence the ongoing probe. Among these factors, he mentioned the bus’s recent production and its electric functioning. Zaia also highlighted the absence of previous accidents at that spot.
The Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, conveyed her sorrow for those affected and extended her support to Mayor Brugnaro.
