At least 10 people died and several were injured when a bus overturned near Petrópolis in the mountains of the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro, according to official sources on Sunday.
The accident occurred at approximately 4:30 local time (7:30 GMT) on a road connecting Brasília with Rio de Janeiro, according to a statement from the Federal Highway Police. The bus, operated by Estrela Guia Turismo, was carrying 47 people.
The vehicle was travelling from Belo Horizonte to the Rio neighbourhood of Copacabana when it went off the road while descending the mountains and overturned near the roadside in an area with vegetation. According to local reports, eight of the deceased are women and one is a minor.
Two people are in serious condition and around a dozen suffered injuries considered moderate, according to the Rio Fire Department. The mayor of Petrópolis, Hingo Hammes, reported that a major rescue operation was activated to assist the victims.
Estrela Guia Turismo expressed solidarity with the victims and said it would cooperate with Brazilian authorities to clarify the causes of the accident.
