A bus accident in Peru has claimed the lives of at least 25 people and left 17 others injured. The incident occurred on the morning of July 16, 2024, when a bus skidded off the Los Libertadores highway and plummeted down a 650-foot slope in the Andean region of Ayacucho.
Jhonny Rolando Valderrama, head of the highway protection division, reported that the accident happened around dawn. The bus belonging to Turismo Molina Union SAC overturned and tumbled down the slope. The ground transport superintendent has begun investigating the crash and the company’s practices.
“Unfortunately, this is just the latest in a series of tragic accidents on the Los Libertadores highway,” Valderrama told the media. The area’s rugged terrain made it challenging for emergency services to reach the site, delaying rescue operations.
The bus was traveling from Lima to Ayacucho when the accident occurred. According to police officials, 42 passengers were on board, and all have been accounted for. Rescue teams faced significant challenges due to the remote location and rugged landscape. Injured passengers were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Peru’s Interior Ministry confirmed the incident on social media, stating that search and rescue operations were ongoing. By early afternoon, efforts to recover bodies from the wreckage were still underway. The accident site is known for its hazardous conditions, with many buses navigating precarious mountain roads.
Deadly bus accidents are common in Peru, particularly in mountainous regions. In April 2024, a similar incident occurred in the northern Cajamarca region, where a bus fell into a river, killing 25 people. Last September, another bus accident in the Anco region claimed 24 lives.
In another recent incident, a bus from Q’orianka Tours plunged into a ravine in northern Peru in January, killing 25 people. The prosecutor’s office blamed the accident on reckless driving and speeding, common causes of such tragedies.
Data suggests that human factors such as driver fatigue and incompetence contribute to approximately 70% of road accidents in Peru. The lack of proper traffic signs, poor road maintenance, and the challenging topography exacerbate the risk of accidents.
Transport Minister Raul Perez expressed his condolences to the victims’ families and pledged to improve road safety measures. “We must ensure that these roads are safer for everyone,” Perez told reporters. “We cannot continue to see such devastating loss of life on our highways.”
Residents have voiced their frustration over the poor state of the roads. Juan Ayquipa, a relative of one of the victims, criticized the lack of maintenance. “All the roads are full of holes, and the government does nothing to fix them,” Ayquipa said.
The investigation into Turismo Molina Union SAC is expected to shed light on any potential negligence or violations of safety standards. The company’s representatives have not yet responded to requests for comment.