18 Killed as Bus Plunges 160ft Into Ravine in Peru

At least 18 people have lost their lives in a devastating bus accident after a double-decker plunged over 160 feet into a ravine in Peru.

The vehicle, which was packed with passengers, was en route from Lima to the Amazon region when it veered off a winding road and overturned on Friday. Authorities reported that 15 people were pronounced dead at the scene, while three others later died in hospital. A major rescue effort was launched in hopes of saving as many lives as possible.

Tragically, two children were among the victims. The bus, operated by Expreso Molina Líder Internacional, was carrying over 60 passengers when it crashed off the highway and landed upside down in the Junin region. Aldo Tineo, a health official from the central Peruvian city of Tarma, confirmed that efforts were ongoing to identify the deceased and determine the cause of the incident.

Footage broadcast on local television showed the bus torn into two parts, with shattered glass and debris scattered across the crash site. Emergency responders, including police and firefighters, worked tirelessly to free victims from the wreckage.

Peru has a history of fatal accidents on its treacherous mountain roads. Just last month, at least eight members of a musical orchestra were killed when their bus also fell into a ravine. That crash occurred near Tarma as the group, Antología del Folklore, was traveling from Oxapampa to Lima after performing a concert. The vehicle fell more than 650 feet, killing nine people, including the bus driver, and injuring 12 others.