GUATEMALA CITY, Feb 11 (Alliance News): At least 51 people lost their lives in Guatemala City on Monday when a bus crashed through a guard rail and fell into a ravine, marking one of Latin America’s worst road accidents in years.
The municipal fire department confirmed that 51 bodies were recovered from the wreckage, while at least 10 injured passengers were rescued. The bus, carrying over 70 people, veered off a bridge and landed in a sewage-contaminated river.
Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and declared a period of national mourning.
Authorities stated that the bus driver lost control, colliding with several small vehicles before breaking through a metal railing and plunging 20 meters (65 feet) into the ravine.
Officials are investigating the cause of the crash, including the possibility of overloading. The bus, despite being 30 years old, was still licensed to operate.
Fatal road accidents are common in Latin America. In 2018, a bus crash in Peru claimed 52 lives, while in 2015, Brazil witnessed a tourist bus accident that killed 54 people.
