A bus crashed into an Easter procession on Sunday in the state of Pernambuco, in northeastern Brazil, killing at least four people, the region's governor announced.
“My thoughts are with the faithful and the families who were victims of (the accident) that occurred during the procession in Jaboatao, which caused the death of at least four people,” state governor Raquel said on Instagram Lyra. Around twenty other people were injured, according to the local press, citing firefighters.
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Mano Medeiros, mayor of Jaboatao dos Guarapes, a city in the metropolitan region of Recife, reported on X of a “serious accident”, without giving the number of victims or the causes of the tragedy.
“A tragedy has just happened”
In a video posted on social networks and by media, the bus can be seen going down a sloping street at full speed before reaching the procession below. In the document, worshipers scream and try to run away.
Bairro de Marcos Freire, Jaboatão dos Guararapes PE
A micro-ônibus atropela a procissão de fiéis q celebravam a Páscoa
4 óbitos e 25 feridos até o momento
Alguém acredita em acidente?
Alguém acredita q aconteceria numa manifestação CAVALO?
Eu não
Que Deus tenha piedade 😢 pic.twitter.com/Elc6IWCSNV
— Junior Volk 💀🚬 (@JuniorVolk7) March 31, 2024
“A tragedy has just happened, an incredible thing, very sad,” said an emotional witness in another video posted on social networks. “I was in the procession from the Church of Perpetual Help, there were a lot of people, children, elders. They let a microbus pass which lost its brakes and ended up knocking down a lot of people,” he adds.
According to local media, the driver of the vehicle fled after causing the accident. “The police are in action to investigate and punish those responsible,” said Raquel Lyra.