Eighteen people died in Mexico after a bus plunged off a cliff on Saturday, April 29.
Authorities in Mexico have confirmed that a bus accident occurred on the western side of the country, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least 18 people and leaving over 30 others injured, including 11 children.
The Nayarit prosecutor’s office disclosed that the incident occurred on Saturday night when the bus fell nearly 50 feet down a ravine. The Mexican state of Nayarit, where the accident occurred, is known for its highway connecting Tepic and Puerto Vallarta, a popular tourist destination.
The prosecutor’s office stated on Twitter that they immediately initiated coordinated efforts with various federal and state authorities to assist the victims. Distressing images captured by Nayarit’s Security and Civil Protection Ministry revealed rescue teams retrieving survivors from the wreckage. Authorities further clarified that among the deceased were eleven women and seven men. Additionally, eleven minors were transported to hospitals for medical treatment.
Civil protection officer Pedro Nunez explained that the ill-fated bus was carrying passengers on a 220-kilometer journey from Guadalajara in the neighboring Jalisco state to Guayabitos, a seaside resort area in Nayarit.
According to Nunez, no foreigners were on the bus, and all the passengers aboard were Mexicans.
Investigators have not yet determined what caused the accident.
In February, another bus accident occurred in the central Mexican state of Puebla, claiming the lives of 17 people. First responders declared 15 passengers dead at the scene, while two others succumbed to their injuries en route to the hospital.