At least 37 people have been killed and dozens more injured after a bus plunged about 200m (650ft) into a ravine in southern Peru, authorities say.
The accident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday on a treacherous stretch of the Pan-American Highway in the Arequipa region, a key route linking Peru with neighbouring Chile.
Local media report that the bus, which was carrying around 60 passengers, collided head-on with a pickup truck on a curve near kilometre 780 of the Pan-American Highway South. The impact sent the bus veering off the road and tumbling down a steep slope to the banks of the Ocoña River.
The vehicle, operated by the Llamosas company, was travelling from the coastal town of Chala, in Caravelí province, to the city of Arequipa when the crash happened.
Images from the scene show the wrecked bus lying at the bottom of the ravine, its windows shattered, roof crushed and bodywork twisted beyond recognition. Rescue workers and firefighters could be seen navigating the rocky terrain to reach victims.
Waldor Llerena, mayor of the Ocoña district, described the area as “very rugged” and said the site has a tragic history of serious and often fatal crashes.
Arequipa’s regional health chief, Walther Oporto, said 36 people died at the scene, while another victim later succumbed to injuries in hospital. Health officials told local radio station RPP that at least 25 people, including three minors, are being treated in nearby medical facilities.
Both the bus driver and the driver of the pickup truck reportedly survived. The Public Prosecutor’s Office said the pickup driver has been detained as investigators work to establish the exact cause of the collision.
Bus accidents are common in Peru, particularly at night and along mountain and coastal highways, where winding roads, poor signage, speeding and inadequate vehicle maintenance frequently contribute to deadly crashes.
Official figures show that more than 3,300 people died in traffic accidents across Peru in 2022, underscoring persistent concerns over road safety.
The crash took place on the Pan-American Highway, the 48,000km road system that stretches from Alaska to the southern tip of Argentina and is recognised as the world’s longest navigable road. The Peruvian stretch, especially in remote and mountainous regions, has long been considered one of its most dangerous segments.
