A bus crash in Guatemala City killed at least 51 people after veering off a bridge into a polluted ravine. Rescuers saved 10 injured passengers. Authorities are investigating the cause, while President Arevalo declared three days of mourning.

A tragic accident occurred in Guatemala City on Monday when a bus carrying more than 70 people veered off a highway bridge into a polluted ravine, resulting in the deaths of at least 51 people, officials reported.

Carlos Hernandez, a spokesman for the city's fire department, confirmed that the bodies of 36 men and 15 women were transported to a provincial morgue. Rescue teams managed to pull 10 injured passengers from the wreckage, and several were taken to the hospital for treatment.

The bus plunged approximately 20 meters (65 feet) from the Puente de Belice bridge, located at the northern entrance to Guatemala’s capital. This highway bridge crosses a road and a creek that is heavily contaminated with sewage.

According to the fire department, the driver lost control of the bus, colliding with several smaller vehicles before careening over the edge. Hernandez described how the vehicle broke through a metal railing before plummeting into the ravine, ultimately landing in the sewage-filled river below.

Images released by the fire department on social media depicted the bus partially submerged in wastewater, surrounded by the bodies of victims.

An initial investigation revealed that the bus was 30 years old but still had an active operating license, according to Communications Minister Miguel Angel Diaz. Investigators are currently examining whether the bus was overloaded with passengers. The exact cause of the early morning crash remains unknown.

In response to the disaster, Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo declared three days of national mourning. He also ordered the deployment of the country’s army and disaster relief agencies to assist with rescue and recovery efforts.

"I stand in solidarity with the families of the victims who today woke up to heartbreaking news. Their pain is my pain," Arevalo stated on social media.

Local media reported that the bus was traveling from the town of San Agustin Acasaguastlan in the department of El Progreso, approximately 90 kilometers northeast of Guatemala City, when the accident occurred.