At Least 37 Dead as Bus Plunges into Ravine After Collision in Peru

At least 37 people were killed and 26 injured after a double-decker bus collided with a pickup truck and plunged into a 200-meter ravine in Peru’s Arequipa region. The bus was traveling from Chala to Arequipa with about 60 passengers. Rescue efforts were hampered by the rocky terrain. The truck driver, who survived, was arrested, while the bus driver died in the crash.

A devastating bus accident in the southern Arequipa region of Peru has left at least 37 people dead, according to information released by local authorities. The tragic incident took place when a double-decker passenger bus collided with a pickup truck and then plunged approximately 200 meters into a steep ravine. The crash has been described as one of the deadliest in Peru’s history, a country that has long struggled with frequent and often fatal road accidents.

Reports from local officials indicate that 36 passengers were pronounced dead at the scene, while one more victim died later from injuries sustained during the crash. The bus, which had around 60 people onboard, was on its way from Chala, a small town in Peru's Caraveli province, to the city of Arequipa, which is the country’s second-largest urban center. Videos and photographs taken at the site showed the bus lying upside down, surrounded by debris, with passengers’ belongings scattered across the rocky ground.

Among the 26 survivors were an eight-month-old baby and two other children, three of whom are said to be in critical condition. The rescue operation proved extremely difficult due to the rough and uneven terrain, according to fire department spokesman Jack Paez. He told local media outlet TV Peru that the area’s geography made it hard for emergency responders to access the wreckage and assist the victims. Paez added that the tragedy “has brought grief to many families,” highlighting the deep emotional pain caused by the disaster.

The Peruvian Interior Ministry announced that both police officers and firefighters were working together to carry out rescue efforts. Their immediate focus, the ministry explained, was to locate and save any remaining survivors, evacuate the injured, and recover the bodies of those who lost their lives. Authorities have also confirmed that an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash and the level of responsibility of the truck driver involved. The driver survived the collision and was apprehended at the scene, while the bus driver was among those who perished in the accident.