At least 21 dead as Venice bus plunges from bridge

A bus carrying foreign tourists including Ukrainians and Germans has crashed near the Italian city of Venice when it fell from an elevated street, killing at least 21 people and injuring 18 others, authorities said.

Four of the injured were in serious condition following the accident in the Mestre borough, on the mainland opposite the historic old city of Venice, said Renato Boraso, a Venice city official.

Two of the dead were children, Venice prefect Michele Di Bari said.

"A tragedy has struck our community this evening", Mayor Luigi Brugnaro wrote on Facebook, describing the site of the crash as "an apocalyptic scene".

"At least 10 people have suffered injuries of varying degrees and have been taken to hospital," a spokesperson from the city hall said, adding that operations were under way to rescue any others wounded.

Firefighters said the bus caught fire after careering off a bridge straddling a railway line and linking the Mestre and Marghera districts of the northern Italian city.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her "profound condolences".

"I am in contact with Mayor Luigi Brugnaro and [Transport] Minister Matteo Salvini in order to follow the news of this tragedy," she said in a statement.

Death toll could rise

According to Il Corriere della Sera newspaper, the bus swerved off the bridge after smashing through the barrier and fell near railway tracks about 30 metres below.

The newspaper said it caught fire after hitting some power lines.

Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said, "The aggravating factor was methane, and the fire spread rapidly".

"I fear that the death toll will rise," he added.

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Source: TRT