In southern Peru, a bus tragically fell into a ravine on Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of at least 26 people.
The country, notorious for its frequent deadly road accidents, witnessed another calamity as reported by local police.
Highway safety official Jhonny Valderrama informed AFP that an additional 14 people sustained injuries in the early-morning crash, updating the initial report of 21 fatalities and 20 injuries.
The bus, carrying over 40 passengers, was traveling from Lima to Ayacucho when it veered off a cliff approximately 200 meters (656 feet) high. Rescue teams faced difficulties recovering bodies from the wreckage due to the remote location.
Among the injured were the two co-drivers, who, along with others, were transported to hospitals for treatment.
Family members anxiously waited for updates outside the Mariscal Hospital in Ayacucho, where some of the injured were being treated.
“We don’t know if my brother is in the hospital or dead. All the roads are full of holes, the government does not do any maintenance,” said Juan Ayquipa to RPP radio.
Peru’s mountainous and winding roads are often sites of accidents due to factors like speeding, poor road conditions, lack of traffic signs, and weak enforcement of driving regulations.
In the previous year, the country recorded over 3,100 deaths from more than 87,000 traffic accidents.
A similar incident on the same road resulted in 17 deaths in May.
Transport Minister Raul Perez expressed his condolences, stating, “I would like to express my sincere condolences to the families who lost their loved ones.”
The cause of this latest accident remains under investigation.
Official data reveals that 70% of road accidents in Peru are attributed to human factors such as driver incompetence or fatigue.
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