LIMA: At least 26 people died and seven were injured early yesterday after a bus plunged 200 metres down a ravine in northern Peru, police said.
The bus veered off a mountain road near the town of Otuzco some 570 kilometres north of Lima.
“So far, we’ve recovered 26 bodies, and seven people have been hurt,” said Asto Moreno, an official with Otuzco’s police force. Authorities blamed the region’s treacherous, winding roads, the poor condition of the vehicle and driver error for the accident.
Road accidents are common in the Peruvian Andes due to poorly maintained roads, inconsistent vehicle maintenance, and the propensity of overworked bus drivers to speed. AFP
