Bus overturns near Petrópolis killing at least 10 on Belo Horizonte-Copacabana route
A bus carrying 49 people from Belo Horizonte to Copacabana overturned in a mountainous area near Petrópolis early Sunday, killing at least 10 passengers including eight women and a child.
The crash
A bus traveling from Belo Horizonte to Copacabana overturned in a steep, mountainous area near Petrópolis, north of Rio de Janeiro, at approximately 4:30 AM local time (8:30 AM Lisbon time) on Sunday, 16 August 2026. According to the G1 portal of Globo, the accident occurred during a descent in the serrana region of Rio de Janeiro state. The vehicle had departed from Belo Horizonte and was carrying 49 people when it skidded and then overturned in the early morning hours. Petrópolis is a mountain city in the serrana region north of Rio de Janeiro.
The Rio de Janeiro fire department said in a statement that rescue teams had to carry out excavation work to reach trapped passengers in the steep terrain.
The firefighters had to carry out excavation work to access and rescue some of the passengers. At the scene a total of 49 victims were counted, eight of them deceased.
Death toll
The fire department confirmed 8 fatalities at the scene, with 49 victims counted in total at the location. The 49 victims include both the deceased and the injured. Local media reported that 2 additional victims died after being transferred from the accident site to hospitals, bringing the death toll to at least 10. The fire department's official count of 8 was based on victims found at the scene, while the 2 additional deaths occurred after transport to medical facilities. The two sources differ on the composition of the dead: France 24 reported 9 women and 1 girl among the fatalities, while Notícias ao Minuto reported 8 women and 1 child.
- Bus skids and overturns on a descent near Petrópolis, carrying 49 people from Belo Horizonte to Copacabana
- Firefighters excavate to reach trapped passengers; 8 confirmed dead at scene, 49 victims counted in total
- Two more victims die at hospitals, bringing the death toll to at least 10
- Estrela Guia Turismo expresses solidarity and confirms cooperation with authorities
Medical response
Beyond the fatalities, the fire department said 2 people were left in serious condition and 12 sustained moderate injuries. Those injured were directed to hospital units for treatment. Local hospitals reported receiving 23 injured people in total following the accident. The bus driver was among the injured, having suffered fractures in both legs.
- Fatalities
- 10 people
- Seriously injured
- 2 people
- Moderately injured
- 12 people
Company response
Estrela Guia Turismo, the company responsible for the bus, issued a statement lamenting the accident and expressing solidarity with the victims. The company confirmed it is providing support to the injured and their families. It also stressed that it is cooperating with authorities to investigate and determine the causes of the crash.
Previous accidents on Brazilian roads
Fatal traffic accidents are frequent in Brazil, with multiple bus crashes resulting in double-digit death tolls in recent months. In February 2026, a bus returning from a religious festival in northeastern Brazil veered off the road and overturned, killing at least 16 people. In October 2025, 17 people died in the state of Pernambuco, in northeastern Brazil, when the driver lost control of a bus. All three incidents involved buses overturning on Brazilian roads.
