Venice mourns after 21 killed in horrific bus crash

Flags flew at half-staff over Venice on Wednesday after at least 21 people were killed and more than 15 injured when a bus carrying foreign tourists fell off an elevated street near the Italian city of Venice.

Five of the victims were Ukrainians, one was German, and the Italian driver also died, said Michele Di Bari, local representative of the Interior Ministry. He said two children were among the deceased.

Reports on Wednesday suggested 15 people had been injured, five seriously. Austrian and Spanish citizens were said to be among those injured, while Italian news agency ANSA reported that the bus was also carrying passengers from France and Croatia.

One rescuer described a "tragedy of young people, if not very young people, except for a few adults".

It remains unclear what caused the accident, which occurred in the evening, in Mestre borough, on the mainland opposite the historic old city of Venice.

Local media reported that the bus broke through a barrier, plummeted almost 15 meters near Mestre's railway tracks, and subsequently caught fire, requiring immediate attention from emergency crews in what Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro described as "an apocalyptic scene".

Reports suggested the vehicle was a hybrid, powered by electric batteries and methane gas. Fire brigade commander, Mauro Longo, told the local Il Gazzettino newspaper that the gas tank had exploded on impact, and the batteries had caught fire, which had made for a complicated rescue operation. Workers eventually moved the wrecked bus from the scene early on Wednesday.

Investigators are analyzing surveillance cameras from the area as part of their investigation into what happened.

Condolences conveyed

"There's a video of the bus just before it falls," Brugnaro told the ANSA news agency. "The vehicle arrives, slows down and brakes. It's almost at a standstill when it crashes through the guardrail. I think the driver must have fallen ill, because otherwise I can't explain it."

The driver, Alberto Rizzotto, was killed in the crash. Venice prosecutors are investigating if he felt ill while he was driving. He was an experienced driver, Venice city councilor Renato Boraso said.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and politicians across Europe have expressed their condolences.

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

"Our thoughts this evening are with the Italian people, the families and loved ones of the victims of the terrible tragedy in Venice," French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X on Tuesday.

European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen also offered her condolences.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said she was "deeply saddened by the terrible bus tragedy. ... In this night of grief, my thoughts are with the victims, their families and friends."

Agencies contributed to this story.