Bus Crash in Bolivia Leaves Dozens Dead, Injured
At least 37 people have died and dozens more were injured in a collision involving two buses in the western Potosi region of Bolivia on Saturday, as per Al Jazeera.
The accident occurred at approximately 7:00 a.m. local time (11:00 GMT) on the route between Uyuni and Colchani, when one of the buses reportedly swerved into the opposite lane.
Uyuni serves as the entrance to the Salar de Uyuni, a popular tourist destination and the world’s largest salt flat.
A spokesperson for the Departmental Police Command of Potosi confirmed the casualties, stating, “As a result of this fatal accident, we have 39 people injured in four hospitals in the town of Uyuni, and 37 people have lost their lives.” Police are currently working to identify the victims and those who were injured and hospitalized.
One of the buses was en route to Oruro, where a major carnival celebration is currently underway. Images from Radio Uyuni showed police officers removing survivors from the wreckage, with bodies covered in blankets scattered across the Andean landscape.
According to a police spokesperson, passengers reported seeing one of the drivers consuming alcohol prior to the crash. Both drivers survived the accident.
Bolivia has a high rate of traffic fatalities, with some 1,400 deaths occurring annually.
