Deadly Bus Crash in Peru Claims At Least 37 Lives
AREQUIPA, Peru – A collision between a passenger bus and a pickup truck on the Panamericana Sul highway in southern Peru has left at least 37 people dead and 24 injured, authorities reported Wednesday. The bus, operated by the company Llamosas, was carrying 60 passengers when it crashed on a curve connecting Peru with Chile.
The tragedy underscores a persistent problem of road safety in Peru, where speeding, reckless driving, and challenging terrain contribute to a high number of accidents. The incident occurred near the site of a similar 2018 crash that killed 44 people, prompting renewed scrutiny of traffic regulations and enforcement.
Walther Oporto, Arequipa’s regional health manager, told AFP, ”We have a number of 37 deaths… in addition to 24 injured.” He cautioned that the death toll could rise due to the severity of some injuries.
The bus had departed Tuesday night from the town of Chala, in the province of Caravelí, en route to Arequipa, Peru’s second-largest city. Images broadcast by Panamericana Television showed the bus overturned in an arid area, coming to rest on the banks of a river. The pickup truck sustained catastrophic damage to its cabin.
Authorities have detained the driver of the pickup truck and are investigating their responsibility for the accident,according to a statement from the Arequipa Public Ministry posted on Facebook. It remains unclear if ther were additional occupants in the truck.
A coordinated rescue effort involving 30 police officers and firefighters is underway to extract victims, provide medical assistance, and recover bodies.
Peru recorded 3,173 traffic fatalities last year. While the country’s 2019 death rate of 14 per 100,000 inhabitants was slightly below the Americas average of 17, according to the World Bank, road accidents remain a significant public safety concern.
