At least 23 people were killed and over a dozen injured in a horrific bus accident in northern Peru on Monday.
Local authorities report the bus plunged off a mountain road in the Cajamarca region, landing approximately 650 feet down a ravine.
Olga Bobadilla, a local official, told RPP radio that the incident occurred late Sunday on a potholed dirt road.
The bus, reportedly carrying more than 50 passengers, landed in a river, with some passengers swept away by the current according to municipal official Jaime Herrera.
Rescue teams have evacuated the injured to local hospitals while authorities investigate the cause of the crash.
The Celendin municipality declared a 48-hour mourning period as families gather anxiously at a nearby police station, seeking information about their loved ones.
Tragically, road accidents are a frequent occurrence in Peru.
Speeding, poor road conditions, lack of signage, and lax enforcement of traffic regulations are cited as contributing factors.
Last year alone, Peru reported over 3,100 traffic fatalities. Authorities are currently investigating whether the bus involved in Monday’s deadly crash was properly maintained and roadworthy.
