At least 17 people were killed in northeastern Brazil after a passenger bus collided into a sand embankment when the driver of the bus lost control, local authorities said Saturday.

The crash happened in Saloa, a city in the northeastern Brazilian state of Pernambuco, according to the Federal Highway Police.

The vehicle departed from the neighboring state of Bahia, with state Governor Jeronimo Teixeira writing on X that his administration was supporting rescue efforts and the identification of victims.

"I am following the situation with my team and deeply mourn the loss of lives, the injuries and the suffering of all the families" he said.

What do we know about the Brazil bus accident?

Police said the bus was carrying about 30 passengers and that the injured were taken to the hospital. It is not clear how many were injured.

The driver swerved into the opposite lane after having lost control of the bus and struck rocks on the side of the highway, police said.

But the driver is said to have returned to the correct lane before he then crashed into a sand embankment, police added.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation, police said, with the driver testing negative for alcohol consumption.

How common are traffic accidents in Brazil?

More than 10,000 people died in traffic accidents in Brazil in 2024, according to the transport ministry.

In April, 11 people died, including two children, after a passenger bus flipped on its side in southeastern Brazil. 

Edited by: Rana Taha