Kathmandu— At least 23 people were killed and five others injured when a bus collided head-on with a truck on Wednesday in the state of Parana, southern Brazil. The bus was transporting patients and healthcare workers to hospitals near Curitiba when the accident occurred on the BR-373 highway, near Ipiranga. Authorities are investigating what caused the truck to cross into the opposite lane, resulting in the devastating crash.

Crash Details

The collision took place in the early hours of Wednesday on the BR-373 highway, according to the Federal Highway Police. Most of those killed were passengers on the bus, which was operated by the municipal health department of Imbituva. The driver of the truck also died in the crash. The bus was en route to hospitals in and around Curitiba, approximately 180 kilometers (110 miles) away from the accident site.

Official Response

Parana Governor Ratinho Junior declared three days of official mourning across the state following the incident. “It’s a very sad day for Parana,” he said. Local authorities are providing psychological support to the families of those who were travelling on the bus, though identities of the deceased had not been released as of publication.

Investigation and Road Closure

Preliminary investigations suggest that the truck crossed into the opposite lane before colliding with the bus. Authorities are currently working to determine the cause of this deviation. Following the crash, the highway was closed in both directions, and road operator Via Araucaria stated there was no estimated time for its reopening. Television footage from TV Globo showed the damaged vehicles – the truck parked on a grassy verge and the minibus severely crushed, with debris scattered across the scene.

The five survivors were transported to hospitals in Ponta Grossa for treatment. Investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.