Passenger Bus Falls into Ravine in Peru, Killing at Least 37

Passenger Bus Falls into Ravine in Peru, Killing at Least 37

London-UK, November 13, 2025

Tragedy in Arequipa: Passenger Bus Falls into Ravine in Peru, Killing at Least 37

A devastating road tragedy has struck southern Peru after a passenger bus falls into a ravine, killing at least 37 people and injuring 13 others. 

The accident occurred early Wednesday morning in the Arequipa region when the bus, carrying over 60 passengers and operated by the Llamosas company, collided head-on with a pickup truck on a curve of the Panamericana Sur highway. 

The impact sent the bus careening off the road and plunging over 200 meters (650 feet) into the deep ravine leading to the Ocoña river. Authorities in Arequipa, Peru, have confirmed the high death toll, making this one of the deadliest road incidents in the nation in recent years and once again highlighting the persistent and fatal issue of poor road safety, speeding, and lax enforcement in the South American nation.

Headline Points: 

The Catastrophic Accident

Victims and Injuries: 

The crash resulted in at least 37 dead and 13 injured. The bus was carrying approximately 60 people when the incident occurred.

Crash Location: 

The tragedy took place on the Panamericana Sur highway in the Caraveli province of the Arequipa, Peru, region, a route notorious for its challenging curves and steep drops.

The Cause: 

Preliminary reports from local media indicate the passenger bus collided head-on with a pickup truck while navigating a sharp curve, causing the bus to lose control and fall over the cliff edge.

The Plunge: 

The vehicle plunged a catastrophic distance of over 200 meters (650 feet) into a deep ravine, landing near the Ocoña river.

Rescue and Recovery: 

Emergency services, including police, firefighters, and military personnel, launched an immediate and difficult recovery operation, with authorities confirming the high fatality count hours later.

A Recurring Issue: 

The accident adds to Peru’s high road death toll, which often results from excessive speeding, poor vehicle maintenance, inadequate road conditions, and insufficient signage on dangerous mountain routes.

The Rescue Nightmare and Rising Death Toll

The passenger bus had departed from the mining city of Chala and was heading towards the city of Arequipa. The catastrophic collision occurred in the pre-dawn hours, complicating immediate rescue efforts. 

The bus was completely destroyed after the long plunge into the ravine, scattering debris and bodies across the rugged terrain near the river banks.

Walther Oporto, the regional health manager for Arequipa, confirmed the tragic loss of at least 37 lives, a figure that grew throughout the morning as rescue teams worked to recover bodies from the wreckage. 

Thirteen survivors were rushed to nearby hospitals, many suffering from severe injuries including broken bones and internal trauma. 

The terrain made the recovery operation extremely challenging, requiring specialized equipment and rapid deployment of emergency medical teams. 

Local leaders and the Llamosas company expressed their condolences and pledged support for the victims’ families, while the Public Ministry launched an immediate investigation into the cause of the head-on collision.

Peru’s Pervasive Road Safety Crisis

The tragedy is a stark reminder of Peru’s persistent and deadly road safety crisis. 

Data from the country’s official Death Information System shows that traffic accidents caused over 3,173 fatalities in 2024 alone. These incidents are frequently blamed on a confluence of factors:

Challenging Geography: 

Peru’s extensive network of highways often traverses the challenging Andes Mountains and steep coastal cliffs, featuring narrow roads, tight curves, and steep drops into ravines.

Lax Enforcement: 

Despite regulations, speeding and aggressive driving remain common, with poor enforcement on remote and mountainous routes.

Vehicle and Road Quality: 

Many passenger buses operate with insufficient maintenance, and rural roads often lack proper signage or guardrails.

Previous deadly crashes, such as the 2018 incident where over 50 people died after a bus went over a cliff on the “Devil’s Curve,” prompted the banning of buses from certain narrow highway stretches. 

However, this latest tragedy in Arequipa underscores that the systemic safety problems remain unresolved across the country’s main transport arteries. 

Until comprehensive measures are implemented to address driver training, vehicle inspections, and road infrastructure on routes like the Panamericana Sur, the grim reality of passenger bus crashes plunging into ravines will continue to claim dozens of lives in Peru.