Guatemala City: Guatemala City has witnessed one of the deadliest road tragedies of recent years on Monday while a passenger bus carrying more than 70 people crashed by a rail of guard and plunged into a ravine , killing at least 51 individuals.
The rescuers of the municipal fire service recovered 51 bodies from the wreckage of the bus, which fell by 20 meters (65 feet) in a river polluted by wastewater and debris. Victor Gomez, spokesperson for volunteer firefighters, confirmed: “We have 51 bodies in the provisional morgue.”
Ten injured passengers were successfully removed from the wreckage and rushed into local hospitals for treatment.
President Bernardo Arevalo expressed deep sadness because of the tragic incident, declaring a period of national mourning. “Today is a difficult day for the Guatemalan nation,” he said, offering condolences to bereaved families.
The authorities indicated that the driver had lost control of the bus, which then collided with several smaller vehicles before kissing a metal guard rail and falling into the ravine. Carlos Hernandez of the fire service described the scene: “The bus continued, pierced the balustrade and fell into a ravine until it reached the contaminated river by wastewater.”
The bus was on the road from San Agustin Arabagastlan to El Progreso, about 90 kilometers northeast of the city of Guatemala.
The Minister of Communications, Miguel Angel Diaz, revealed that the initial surveys showed that the bus was almost 30 years old but still authorized to operate. The authorities are studying whether passenger overload or mechanical failure played a role in the accident.
The incident highlights continuous concerns about road safety in Latin America. In January 2018, 52 people died in Peru when a bus left a cliff on a beach near Lima. Similarly, in March 2015, Brazil attended a deadly tourist bus accident which made 54 lives in the state of Santa Catarina.
Guatemah authorities have promised to intensify security measures after this last tragedy, while rescue teams continue to seek additional victims and provide support to survivors.
