The bus in southern Bolivia plunged into a 1,600-foot-deep ravine and, in addition to the 31 fatalities, some 22 people suffered serious injuries following the impact
At least 31 people were killed after a bus collided with a truck on a main road in southern Bolivia on Monday.
The SUV driver was among a further 22 people seriously hurt following the huge impact, which led to the bus plunging into a 1,600-foot-deep ravine in Potosí.
An 11-year-old boy died, police said as they investigate the collision. One man, understood to have been driving the truck, has been arrested.
President of Bolivia Luis Arce expressed condolences for the victims on social media. He said in the post on Facebook: “This unfortunate event must be investigated to establish responsibilities. We send our most sincere condolences to the bereaved families, wishing them the necessary strength to face these difficult times.”
The crash comes just days after 37 people died and 40 were injured after two buses collided on a road that connects the western Bolivian cities of Colchani and Uyuni.
A preliminary report indicated that one of the buses encroached into the oncoming lane, presumably due to speeding, and caused the collision, the Bolivian Ministry of Government said in a statement.
Authorities deployed a crane had to turn over one of the buses which had rolled over onto its side. First responders were also seen removing bodies from the debris and carrying them away in wrapped blankets.
Both horrors come as authorities in Spain investigate a bus crash, which left more than 30 people seriously injured. It is understood the accident in Barcelona was caused when one coach was hit from behind by the other on the Avinguida Diagonal, close to the famous Sagrada Familia. As a result of the large shunt the vehicle, carrying cruise passengers including several Brits, mounted the pavement and hit a tree and a lamp post.
The number of injured has jumped to 51 from 30. Autocares Julia, the company operating the coach the cruise liner day trippers were on, confirmed a number of British tourists had been on the vehicle – although it is unknown what ship they were from. He said: “The nationalities most represented on the coach were British, German and Italians.
“They were on a cruise liner which had arrived in Barcelona earlier today and was due to leave in the next few hours. I don’t know whether there are any British tourists among the most seriously hurt. It is too early to say at this stage.”
