LIMA—A tragic incident occurred in Peru on Tuesday, resulting in the loss of at least 25 lives and leaving 17 individuals injured. The unfortunate event took place when a bus crashed while traversing a mountainous area, as reported by Ayacucho’s regional health department.
The bus veered off a highway in Peru’s Andean Ayacucho region early in the morning, overturning and plunging down a 200-meter slope, according to Jhonny Rolando Valderrama, the head of the highway protection division, as stated by state news agency Andina.
Mr. Valderrama specified that the tragic accident occurred on the Los Libertadores highway in Ayacucho, located in the south-central Andes, with ongoing rescue efforts in progress.
As the day progressed, a senior police officer revealed that preliminary information indicated there were 42 passengers onboard the ill-fated bus.
Peru’s ground transportation superintendent, SUTRAN, released a statement confirming that the bus belonged to the local company Turismo Molina Union SAC and that an investigation has been initiated.
Despite multiple requests for comments, representatives of the company remained unresponsive to Reuters.
Related Stories
Tragically, fatal bus accidents are not uncommon in Peru, where buses frequently navigate treacherous mountain routes or are operated by underqualified drivers.
In April, a devastating incident claimed the lives of 25 individuals when a bus plunged into a river in Peru’s northern Cajamarca region. Similarly, last September, at least 24 lives were lost in a comparable accident in the Anco region.
