At least 40 people are reported dead in Brazil, after a bus plunged down a deep ravine.

It happened late on Saturday, in a mountainous area of Santa Catarina state.

Police think the driver may have lost control on a curve.

The bus – which was around 10 kilometres from its destination city of Joinville – fell dozens of metres, before crashing in a wooded area.

Around 50 people are understood to have been onboard at the time.