At least 23 people were killed and five others injured in a head-on collision between a bus and a truck on the BR-373 highway in the state of Parana, southern Brazil, in the early hours of Wednesday.
The accident, which according to the Federal Highway Police occurred around 3 a.m. local time, resulted in the majority of the fatalities being passengers on the bus, with the truck driver also losing his life. Preliminary evidence suggests that the truck crossed into the opposite lane.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the collision.
The bus involved in the incident belonged to the health department of Imbituva, and was en route to hospitals in the capital of Parana, Curitiba, located about 180 kilometers (110 miles) away.
Following the accident, Imbituva declared two days of mourning for the victims.
Highway operator Via Araucaria announced on social media platform X that the highway remains closed and the reopening time is yet to be determined.
Fatal traffic accidents are not uncommon in Brazil, with studies indicating that speeding, drunk driving, and cellphone use while driving are common causes of such incidents.
In February of this year, a bus carrying pilgrims to festival events in the state of Ceara in northeastern Brazil was involved in a crash, resulting in the deaths of 15 people.
(This article referenced reports from Reuters and the BBC)