At least 37 people were killed and 30 others injured when two passenger buses collided on a rural road in southwestern Bolivia early Saturday, police said.
The incident occurred at 7.00 am local time near Uyuni, which serves as an entry point to the Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flat spanning over 10,000 square kilometres (3,900 square miles) and a popular tourist destination, the Associated Press reported.
Top developments on the bus crash
- The crash occurred at around 7.00 am local time, approximately 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the city of Uyuni.
- One of the bus drivers remains in intensive care, while the other is in stable condition, according to police commander Wilson Flores.
- One of the buses was en route to the western city of Oruro, where the Oruro Carnival—one of Latin America’s largest festivals—is currently underway.
- Passengers reported that one of the surviving drivers was seen consuming alcohol before the crash.
- Authorities are awaiting the results of alcohol tests.
- Footage from Radio Uyuni captured police rescuing survivors from the twisted wreckage, with several victims seen lying under blankets across the Andean plains.
- Injured passengers were transported to hospitals in Oruro and Potosí, though their conditions remain undisclosed.
Bolivia’s mountainous terrain, poor road maintenance, and lack of oversight contribute to approximately 1,400 road fatalities annually, making its roads among the most dangerous in the world.
Bolivia has witnessed multiple deadly crashes in recent months. In February, over 30 people died when a bus plunged nearly 800 meters (2,625 feet) into a ravine between Potosí and Oruro.