According to Guatemala authorities, at least 50 people have lost their lives and fifteen others have sustained injuries following a bus accident that occurred when the vehicle fell into a contaminated ravine from the bridge on the outskirts of Guatemala City
The bus carrying 75 people was traveling from Progreso, located to the northeast of the capital, along a busy route in and out of Guatemala’s capital on Monday when it plunged from Puente Belice, a highway bridge that spans a road and creek.
According to fire service spokesperson, a collision involving multiple vehicles caused the bus to plunge off the bridge in the early hours of Monday morning.
Fire service official also said that the operations were ongoing “to rescue additional individuals who are trapped” within the debris. The remains of 36 men and 15 women have been transported to a provincial morgue. According to one volunteer firefighting representative, children were among those affected by this tragedy.
President of Guatemala, Bernardo Arevalo, has expressed his condolences, announced three days of national mourning and mobilized the army and disaster response agency to assist in the recovery efforts.
“I express my solidarity with the families of the victims who have awoken to this devastating news,” he stated. “Their suffering is shared by me.”
The President of Guatemala’s Congress also issued a statement on social media expressing sorrow over the “tragic accident” in which “more than four dozen Guatemalans lost their lives while seeking their daily livelihood.”
Guatemala City Mayor Ricardo Quinonez noted on social media that emergency services had been dispatched while traffic police worked to establish alternative routes in the impacted area.
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