RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov 25, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Twenty-three people died Sunday
when a bus on a remote mountain road in Brazil's northeastern Alagoas state
dived into a ravine, regional authorities said.

Rescue services confirmed that 22 died at the scene and another person -- a
pregnant woman -- succumbed after being taken to hospital, the Alagoas state
government said in a statement.

It added that another 20 injured people were taken to the region's hospital.

The accident occurred near the town of Uniao dos Palmares.

State governor Paulo Dantas declared on the social media platform X three
days of mourning over the "tragedy."

The bus went off the road in an area difficult to access, near a site in the
Serra da Barriga mountain range that has historical importance to Brazilians.

In the 17th century there was a settlement there that was part of the
Quilombo dos Palmares, a remote community set up by escaped slaves which
ended up being crushed by Brazil's Portuguese colonial masters.

November is the month Brazil celebrates "Black Awareness," with a public
holiday on November 20 -- the anniversary of the death of Zumbi, the most
prominent leader of the Quilombo dos Palmares.

Brazil's racial equality minister, Anielle Franco, said on X she was "hit
hard" by news of the accident, adding "this tragedy saddens us even more
deeply" given the Black Awareness events held in the region.