As many as 51 people died after a tourist bus veered off a mountain road and plunged into a ravine in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina on Saturday evening.
The bus, packed with families, was en route from the Brazilian state of Parana state to an evangelical Christian event in the city of Joinville in neighboring Santa Catarina, shortly before nightfall.
Police say it appears the vehicle's brakes failed while navigating a windy mountain road about 10 kilometers from Joinville, causing it to overshoot a curve and plunge about 400 metres into a deep, wooded ravine, Brazil's Globo news site reported.
Initially, 42 occupants were reported dead, with recovery crews later saying deaths in hospital have pushed the total number closer to 51. Local authorities say 12 people were rescued alive, Globo reported.
At least 15 recovery vehicles and ambulances arrived at the scene to assist in the operation which went late into the night. A helicopter was also dispatched but could not land due to the terrain, El Salvador's Noticias 4Vision reported.
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