New Delhi: A devastating road accident in southern Brazil's Parana state has claimed the lives of at least 23 people after a minibus and a truck collided head-on early Wednesday morning, authorities said. Five others were injured in the crash, with some reported to be in serious condition.
According to Brazil's traffic police, preliminary investigations suggest that the truck, which was not carrying any cargo, crossed into the opposite lane and struck the minibus at around 3:30 am.
The accident took place on a highway near Ipiranga, a city with around 14,000 residents located in central Parana state, about 560 kilometers (350 miles) south of Sao Paulo. The minibus was traveling from Imbituva, while the truck was registered in Erechim city in Rio Grande do Sul state.
Authorities said the minibus was carrying healthcare workers, patients and some family members. The highway toll operator reported that the victims included 13 women, eight men and two children.
Three of the injured passengers were in critical condition and were being shifted to nearby hospitals. Emergency teams and police remained at the accident site for several hours, while the highway remained blocked for nearly seven hours.
Television footage showed the severely damaged minibus and the truck lying on the roadside, with broken glass and passengers' belongings scattered around the crash site.
The accident is considered the deadliest in the region since 2021, when 19 people died in a bus crash near Curitiba.
Following the tragedy, Parana Governor Ratinho Júnior announced a three-day mourning period across the state in memory of the victims.