37 Killed as Bus Plunges into Deep Ravine in Southern Peru

At least 37 people were killed and 24 others injured in southern Peru on Wednesday when a double-decker bus plunged into a deep ravine after colliding with a pickup truck, officials said.

The fatal accident occurred at dawn along a winding section of the Panamericana Sur highway in the Arequipa region—one of the deadliest road crashes in Peru in recent years.

“We have a figure of 37 fatalities and 24 injured,” said Walther Oporto, the regional health manager of Arequipa. He warned that the death toll could rise as several victims were in critical condition.

The double-decker bus, operated by the Llamosas transport company, had left the coastal town of Chala in Caraveli province on Tuesday night and was heading to Arequipa, the country’s second-largest city. It was carrying more than 60 passengers, including children and elderly people.

According to rescue officials, the bus collided head-on with a pickup truck on a bend before plunging roughly 200 metres (650 feet) into a rocky ravine, coming to rest on a riverbank below.

Fire department spokesman Jack Paez said around 30 police officers and firefighters were involved in the rescue operation, which was hindered by the rough terrain. “This accident has brought grief to many families,” he said.

Images from the scene showed bodies lined up along the riverbank as a priest offered prayers for the victims. “I ask for justice, that the full weight of the law be applied to the truck driver,” said one grieving relative who lost both his father and brother.

President Jose Jeri expressed his condolences on social media, offering sympathy to the families of those killed and injured.

Police confirmed that the driver of the pickup truck survived and was detained after testing positive for alcohol. The bus driver died in the crash, the Llamosas company said.

Deadly traffic accidents are frequent in Peru, often caused by speeding, reckless driving, poor road maintenance, lack of road signs, and weak enforcement of safety laws. The country’s mountainous terrain also contributes to the danger.

In February 2018, near the same area, another bus plunged into a river, killing 44 people. Last year alone, Peru recorded more than 3,100 road fatalities.