LIMA, Peru: A devastating bus crash in southern Peru has resulted in the deaths of at least 26 people, with 14 others injured, according to local police. The accident occurred early Tuesday morning when the bus, traveling from Lima to the Andean region of Ayacucho, veered off a cliff approximately 200 meters high.
Highway safety official Jhonny Valderrama updated the toll, noting the initial count of 21 dead and 20 wounded. Rescue teams faced significant challenges in recovering bodies from the wreckage due to the difficult terrain.
Survivors, including the two co-drivers, were transported to hospitals. Desperate family members awaited news outside Ayacucho’s Mariscal Hospital. Juan Ayquipa, a relative of one of the passengers, expressed frustration over poor road conditions, citing a lack of maintenance by the government.
Peru’s winding and mountainous roads are notorious for deadly accidents, often attributed to speeding, inadequate road upkeep, insufficient traffic signs, and lax enforcement of driving rules. The country recorded over 3,100 deaths from more than 87,000 traffic accidents last year.
Transport Minister Raul Perez extended condolences to the victims’ families but stated that the cause of the crash remains unknown. Official data indicates that human factors, such as driver incompetence or fatigue, account for 70% of road accidents in Peru. The recent crash follows a similar incident on the same road in May, which claimed 17 lives.
