At least 21 people including several children have died after a bus crashed off a flyover near Venice and burst into flames, officials say.
The bus broke through a barrier and plunged almost 15m (50ft) near railway tracks in the district of Mestre, which is connected to Venice by a bridge.
Five Ukrainians, one German and the Italian driver were among the dead, city prefect Michele Di Bari said.
Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said a “huge tragedy” had taken place.
“An apocalyptic scene, there are no words,” he said on social media.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
At least 21 people including several children have died after a bus crashed off a flyover near Venice and burst into flames, officials say.
CCTV footage of the flyover from Tuesday night showed the vehicle driving past another bus, before toppling off the carriageway.
It had apparently been rented by a local company to pick up tourists from the historic centre of Venice to a campsite in the nearby Marghera district.
“I wanted to help,” he told La Presse website, “but I was prevented by a friend of mine and a policewoman because the bus was still in flames and in danger of blowing up.”
What is unclear is why the bus left the flyover on a downhill stretch of the road and careered through a guard rail and metal barrier.
A reception point staffed by psychologists and psychiatrists has been set up at a nearby hospital to provide support for the victims’ families.
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