At least 37 people have died and many others were injured after a bus plunged into a deep ravine in southern Peru early Wednesday morning.
The tragedy occurred on a challenging stretch of the Pan-American Highway in Arequipa, a region known for its mountainous terrain and dangerous curves.
The bus, carrying around 60 passengers, reportedly collided head-on with a pickup truck while rounding a bend. The impact caused the bus to veer off the road and tumble down a 200-metre drop toward the Ocoña River.
The vehicle, run by the Llamosas company, was travelling from Chala in Caraveli province to Arequipa city.
Images from the site show the bus severely damaged, with its roof crushed, windows shattered, and bodywork mangled.
Waldor Llerena, mayor of Ocoña district, described the area as "very rugged" and noted that similar deadly incidents have occurred there before.
According to Walther Oporto, Arequipa’s regional health chief, thirty-six people died on the spot, while one more succumbed to injuries later in hospital.
Health authorities said 25 survivors, including three children, are receiving medical attention.
Both drivers reportedly survived the crash. The Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that the pickup truck driver has been taken into custody as authorities investigate the cause of the collision.
Bus accidents are frequent in Peru, particularly at night and on mountainous routes, due to factors such as poor road conditions, high speeds, and inadequate safety signs. In 2022, official figures show over 3,300 people died in traffic accidents nationwide.
The Pan-American Highway, stretching nearly 48,000 kilometres from Alaska to southern Argentina, holds the record for the world’s longest road passable by motor vehicles.
