Journalism of Courage
Advertisement
Premium

37 killed, dozens injured after two buses collide in Bolivia

“As a result of this fatal accident, we have 39 people injured in four hospitals in the town of Uyuni, and 37 people have lost their lives,” a spokesman for the Departmental Police Command of Potosí told reporters.

BoliviaThe accident took place at 7:00 am local time a few kilometers from Uyuni, the gateway to the Salar de Uyuni, a major tourist attraction (X)

Two passenger buses collided Saturday on a highway in southern Bolivia, leaving at least 37 dead, including two children, and more than 30 people injured, police said.

The accident occurred in the early morning hours on the route between Uyuni and Colchani, when one of the buses swerved into the oncoming lane, resulting in the one of  the country’s deadliest road accidents in recent years.

“As a result of this fatal accident, we have 39 people injured in four hospitals in the town of Uyuni, and 37 people have lost their lives,” a spokesman for the Departmental Police Command of Potosí told reporters.

One of the buses was heading to the city of Oruro, the scene this weekend of the Oruro Carnival, one of the largest festivals in Latin America. It attracts tens of thousands of people.

At the crash site, a crane overturned one of the buses, which had landed on its side. Police officers were seen removing bodies from the wreckage, carrying them away wrapped in blankets.

A preliminary investigation suggests that speeding may have been a factor, with one of the buses veering into the opposite lane, according to a statement from the Bolivian Ministry of Government.

Authorities are now working to identify the victims and provide support to the injured.

(With Inputs from Reuters)

From the homepage

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Tags:
  • Bolivia
Edition
Install the Express App for
a better experience
Featured
Trending Topics
News
Multimedia
Follow Us
Express ExplainedWhat sets nationwide SIR apart from Bihar’s controversial roll revision
X