At least 51 people dead in Guatemala bus accident, authorities say

At least 51 people have died, and several others were injured after a bus veered off a highway bridge and plunged into a polluted ravine in Guatemala City on Monday, according to the city’s fire department.

At least 51 died as when a bus carrying 75 people fell into ravine in Guatemala City, according to rescuers. Local news site El Gráfico GT gave a "preliminary" report on X that 31 people died and 15 were injured due to the accident.

A bus veered off a highway bridge into a polluted ravine in Guatemala City on Monday. A voluntary firefighters spokesperson reported that 51 bodies from the Guatemala bus crash have been moved to a temporary morgue.

The bus was traveling on a busy route in and out of the city when it plunged approximately 20 meters from Puente Belice, a highway bridge that crosses over a road and creek.

Images shared by the fire department on social media showed the bus partially submerged in wastewater surrounded by victims' bodies.

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo declared three days of national mourning and deployed the country's army and disaster agency to assist response

efforts.

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

The bus, which was travelling along a major route in and out of the capital, fell approximately 20 meters from Puente Belice, a highway bridge that spans a road and creek.

Rescue workers arrived at the scene, where survivors were trapped, while images shared by emergency responders showed the bus partially submerged in wastewater, surrounded by victims' bodies.

Guatemala City Mayor Ricardo Quiñónez confirmed that emergency services had been deployed and traffic police were working to establish alternative routes.

"We have deployed all emergency services to speed up rescue operations and medical assistance. The Municipal Traffic Police is working on alternative routes to ease mobility in the affected area," he stated.

Reacting to the tragedy, President Bernardo Arévalo expressed his condolences to the victims' families and announced national mourning.

"The tragedy at the Belize Bridge is a national pain that I deeply regret. I stand in solidarity with the families of the victims who today woke up to heartbreaking news. Their pain is my pain," he said.

The President also confirmed that personnel from the National Army and CONRED (National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction) had been mobilised to assist in rescue efforts and provide specialised medical care for the injured.

"Furthermore, I have decided to declare a period of national mourning, which will soon be formalised by government agreement," the president added.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the accident as the country mourns one of its deadliest road tragedies in recent years.

A bus veered off a highway bridge into a polluted ravine in Guatemala City on Monday, killing at least 32 people and trapping survivors, a spokesperson for the city’s fire department said.

The bus was traveling on a busy route in and out of the city when it plunged approximately 20 meters (65 feet) from Puente Belice, a highway bridge that crosses over a road and creek.

Images shared by the fire department on social media showed the bus partially submerged in wastewater surrounded by victims’ bodies.

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo declared three days of national mourning and deployed the country’s army and disaster agency to assist response efforts.

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