At least 23 people have been killed in Peru after a bus crashed in the northern part of the country, careening down a 1,000-foot (300-meter) ravine.
The crash occurred on the remote PE-12A national highway in the Cusca district of the northern Andean province of Corongo.
Rescue operations were underway in the difficult-to-access area, located roughly 10,000 feet (3,250 meters) above sea level, the Regional Emergency Operations Center for the Ancash Region said.
The death toll rose from a count of 20 earlier in the day after three people died of serious injuries, with six more still injured.
Road accidents, in particular deadly bus crashes, are frequent in the South American country, especially those involving drivers going at high speeds on poorly maintained mountain roads.
At least 23 people have been killed in Peru after a bus crashed in the northern part of the country, careening down a 1,000-foot (300-meter) ravine
The crash occurred on the remote PE-12A national highway in the Cusca district of the northern Andean province of Corongo
‘The road is in terrible condition… those are the consequences,’ Carlos Pinedo, mayor of the nearby town of Yanac, told local media.
‘We should not wait for more deaths,’ he added.
Police are yet to determine the cause of the crash, which was reported by authorities on Tuesday.
In September, 25 bus passengers died in an accident in the south of the country.
Not even a month later, in August, another accident in the same region killed 13, leaving five seriously injured.
Furthermore, the most recent World Health Organisation data estimates that there were 4,414 road traffic related deaths in Peru in 2019.
The public prosecutor’s office has said that speeding and reckless driving are the main causes of accidents in Peru.
Road accidents, in particular deadly bus crashes, are frequent in the South American country
A non-fatal crash earlier this month left an Australian couple in urgent need of medical treatment but visa and insurance issues are preventing them from travelling home to receive treatment.
Jason and Stephanie Rowe were in a bus that drove over a cliff-edge in the Amazon jungle, flipping three times before coming to rest just short of the river.
The survivors were eventually rescued but the couple have not been impressed by the local medical treatment which has found them in seperate hospitals 9-hours from each other by car.
Mr Rowe has also been unable to secure head scans for any lingering injuries, leading to their urgency to return home.
A spokesperson from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade told Daily Mail Australia they are assisting the couple with their travel needs but said they could not provide further information.
Source : Daily Mail
