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Peru bus crash kills 37 after collision on Pan-American Highway
A bus carrying 60 passengers plunged into a 200-meter (650-foot) ravine in southern Peru early Wednesday, killing at least 37 people and injuring dozens after colliding head-on with a pickup truck on a mountainous stretch of the Pan-American Highway.
Crash details and location
The accident occurred around kilometer 780 of the Pan-American Highway South, near the Ocoña River in Arequipa region. According to local reports, the bus-operated by transport company Llamosas-was traveling from Chala, in Caraveli province, to Arequipa when it struck the truck on a curve, veered off the road, and fell into the ravine.
Waldor Llerena, mayor of Ocoña district, described the terrain as "very rugged" and noted the area's history of fatal accidents. Photographs from the scene show the bus wreckage at the bottom of the steep gorge, with shattered windows, crushed bodywork, and a caved-in roof.
Casualties and response
Walther Oporto, Arequipa's regional health chief, confirmed that 36 people died at the scene, while a 37th victim succumbed to injuries in hospital. Firefighters and medical teams responded to the crash, where 25 survivors-including three minors-were transported to a local hospital for treatment.
The Public Prosecutor's Office announced an investigation into the incident and detained the pickup truck driver. Both drivers reportedly survived the collision.
Broader context
Bus accidents are frequent in Peru, particularly at night and on mountain highways, often attributed to poor road conditions, excessive speed, and inadequate safety signage. Official figures indicate over 3,300 traffic-related deaths in the country in 2022 alone.
The Pan-American Highway, spanning 48,000 kilometers from Alaska to Argentina, is the world's longest motorable road. The stretch through Peru's southern highlands is known for its challenging terrain.
