At least 37 people have died and dozens more were injured in a tragic bus crash in southern Peru, after the vehicle plunged into a 200-metre (650-foot) ravine along a dangerous stretch of the Pan-American Highway. The accident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday morning in the Arequipa region, near the Ocoña River.
According to local reports, the bus was carrying around 60 passengers when it collided head-on with a pickup truck while navigating a sharp curve. The impact caused the bus to lose control, veer off the road, and fall down the steep slope to the riverbank below.
What Do Authorities Say About the Crash?
The ill-fated bus belonged to the Llamosas transport company and was traveling from Chala, in Caravelí province, to Arequipa city when the collision happened at kilometre 780 of the Pan-American Highway South. Both drivers reportedly survived the crash and are under investigation.
Arequipa’s regional health chief, Walther Oporto, confirmed that 36 passengers died at the scene, while one more succumbed to injuries in hospital. Health officials also reported that 25 others, including three minors, are being treated in nearby hospitals for various injuries.
Images from the scene show the mangled remains of the bus at the bottom of the ravine, with its windows shattered and roof collapsed. Emergency responders, firefighters, and police worked for hours to recover bodies and rescue survivors from the wreckage.
Why Are Bus Accidents Common in Peru?
District mayor Waldor Llerena described the terrain around the site as “very rugged” and said the area has a history of similar deadly accidents. Poor road conditions, excessive speeding, and inadequate safety signage continue to make Peru’s highways some of the most dangerous in South America, particularly at night and in mountainous regions.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that the driver of the pickup truck has been detained, and a full investigation into the cause of the accident is underway.
Official data shows that more than 3,300 people died in traffic accidents in Peru in 2022, underscoring the country’s ongoing road safety crisis. The Pan-American Highway, which stretches an astonishing 48,000 kilometres from Alaska to Argentina, remains one of the world’s longest and most perilous road networks, with this latest tragedy adding to its dark record of deadly crashes.
By Lucky Anyanje