A catastrophic bus accident on Guatemala’s treacherous Inter-American Highway has resulted in a significant loss of life, with local authorities confirming 15 fatalities and 19 individuals injured. The tragedy unfolded in the western region of the country when the passenger vehicle veered off the road and plummeted into a deep ravine.
Emergency response spokesperson Leandro Amado provided a detailed breakdown of the casualties, indicating that the victims included eleven adult males, three women, and one minor. The incident occurred in the Solola Department along a notoriously dangerous stretch of highway between kilometres 172 and 174, an area locally known as ‘Alaska Peak’ due to its challenging and rugged topography.
According to Amado’s statement on Saturday, rescue operations were immediately launched following the accident. Approximately 19 injured passengers were successfully extracted from the wreckage and transported to nearby medical facilities for urgent treatment. The bus had been en route from Guatemala City to the San Marcos department, which borders Mexico, when it descended into a ravine approximately 75 meters (250 feet) deep under circumstances that remain undetermined.
Visual documentation released by the fire department depicted the extensive damage to the vehicle as emergency personnel conducted complex rescue efforts in the ravine. The challenging recovery operation was further complicated by the area’s characteristic dense fog, which frequently creates hazardous driving conditions through reduced visibility.
Local media outlets reported that family members of passengers rushed to both the accident site and area hospitals in desperate attempts to locate their relatives. This latest incident echoes a previous bus tragedy that occurred in early 2025, when more than 50 people lost their lives in a similar accident near Guatemala City, highlighting ongoing transportation safety concerns in the region.