LIMA: At least 23 people died and more than a dozen were wounded when a bus plunged into a deep ravine from a mountain road in northern Peru, local authorities said on Monday. The devastating incident occurred late Sunday on a potholed dirt road in the Andean region of Cajamarca.
According to local official Olga Bobadilla, the bus fell into an abyss approximately 200 meters (approximately 650 feet) deep, after losing control on the treacherous terrain. The bus eventually came to rest on the edge of a river, where some passengers were swept away by the water’s force.
Rescue workers and firefighters immediately responded to the scene of the crash, where efforts were underway to evacuate the injured to nearby hospitals for urgent medical attention. The exact number of casualties and injured people is yet to be confirmed, as rescue operations continue.
Jaime Herrera, a municipal official, revealed that the Celendin municipality has declared 48 hours of mourning in the wake of the tragic accident. Dozens of distraught persons, many of whom were family members of the passengers, gathered at a nearby police station, anxiously awaiting updates on the fate of their loved ones.
Accidents on Peruvian roads are unfortunately common occurrences, attributed to factors such as speeding, poor road conditions, insufficient signage, and lax enforcement of traffic regulations. Last year alone, the country recorded over 3,100 fatalities resulting from traffic accidents, underscoring the urgent need for improved road safety measures.
