SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) -- A bus carrying Argentine tourists burst into flames Wednesday when it crashed head-on into another bus in southeastern Brazil, killing at least 39 people and injuring another 15, police said.
The accident occurred in the early morning hours on a fog-shrouded mountain highway near the town of Pouso Redondo, 340 miles southwest of Sao Paulo in the state of Santa Catarina."The crash was so strong that the Argentine bus exploded into a ball of fire after falling over on one of its sides," Federal Highway Police officer Ivan Robson Flores said by phone. Flores said 39 were killed, including four children and "there are unconfirmed reports that another 20 tourists were burned to death."
"The bus carrying the Argentine tourists was apparently speeding on a downhill stretch when it smashed into the other bus, which was on a normal intercity route," he added. He did not know how many passengers were on the Argentine bus.
He said the only Brazilian victim was the driver of the intercity bus.
A truck, van and several passenger cars were also involved in the accident but apparently none of their drivers or passengers were hurt, he said.