The mayor of Venice has declared a day of mourning, Wednesday October 4. This comes the day after the accident of a tourist bus, which fell below a highway, which left at least 21 dead, including two children, including Ukrainians, French and Germans. The flags of official buildings in the Veneto region were lowered to half-mast at the request of its president, Luca Zaia. Follow our live stream.
The bus was carrying tourists. Among the victims are “Ukrainian tourists”, a spokesperson for the town hall, but also the Germans and the French, reported to AFP, according to the Ansa agency. Three Ukrainians, a Croat, a German and a Frenchman were among the injured, the spokesperson told AFP. The identification of the victims was still underway overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday.
The accident has happened shortly after 7:30 p.m. The bus was traveling between the historic center of Venice and a campsite on the mainland on behalf of the public transport company of Venice, which explains why “the victims and injured are of several nationalities, not just Italian”, according to Luca Zaia. The toll could get worse, as rescuers were waiting for the batteries of the hybrid vehicle – electric/methane – to cool so they could move it and ensure that no other victims were in the carcass.
Many reactions. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni immediately expressed “his deep condolences”. “I am in contact with Mayor Luigi Brugnaro and Minister [des Transports] Matteo Salvini to follow the news of this tragedy”, she said in a press release. Emmanuel Macron reacted on X. “Our thoughts this evening are with the Italian people, the families and loved ones of the victims of the terrible tragedy in Venice”he wrote.