Toronto (Canada) (EFE).- The Canadian Police confirmed that 15 people died, and another ten were hospitalized, after a truck crashed into a minibus carrying elderly people to a casino in western Canada.
Authorities warned that the death toll could rise in the coming hours.
The accident occurred on the Trans-Canada highway, which connects the eastern tip of the country with the Pacific coast, near the town of Carberry, in the province of Manitoba, in western Canada.
The Canadian Mounted Police said in a press conference that the accident occurred around 11:43 local time (16:43 GMT) on Thursday between a heavy truck and a minibus dedicated to transporting people with disabilities in which 25 people were traveling.
Sands Hill Casino, a casino located in the town of Carberry, confirmed to local media that the minibus belonged to his company. And that at the time of the accident the vehicle was heading to the gaming venue.
Manitoba Mounted Police Commander Rob Hill said the minibus was crossing the Trans-Canada Highway in the accident and that most of the victims were elderly people.
The drivers of both vehicles survived.
Traffic accident on the Trans-Canada Highway
Images broadcast by local television show the charred remains of a minibus on the side of the highway as well as a large-tonnage truck with the front of the engine completely destroyed.
A witness who arrived at the accident area shortly after the impact told CTV that the scene is “horrible” and that “nothing is left of the vehicle.”
Another witness said that “people were trying to save themselves and medical personnel and firefighters were helping them out. It’s hard to describe but it was horrible.”
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau noted on Twitter that “the news coming out of Carberry, Manitoba is unbelievably tragic.”
“I can’t imagine the pain those affected are feeling, but Canadians are here with you,” he added.
In a statement, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said it has deployed all available units in the western part of the province of Manitoba.
Meanwhile, in the cities of Winnipeg and Regina, hospitals were placed in “code orange.” That is activated when an incident occurs with a very high number of victims.
