2025 Guatemala City bus crash

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2025 Guatemala City bus crash
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CCTV image showing the bus (blurred by rapid motion) at upper right, moments before the crash.
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Location of the accident
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2025 Guatemala City bus crash (Guatemala)
Details
DateFebruary 10, 2025
c. 4:30 a.m. (GMT-6)
LocationZone 6, Las Vacas River, Guatemala City
Coordinates 14°39′00″N90°29′07″W / 14.65000°N 90.48528°W / 14.65000; -90.48528
Country Guatemala
Incident type Roadway departure
CauseUnder investigation
Statistics
Bus1
Passengers70+
Deaths55+ (including the bus driver and a Mexican national)
Injured9+

In the early morning of February 10, 2025, a bus carrying around 70 passengers [1] veered off a bridge and fell into the Las Vacas River after colliding with other vehicles in Zone 6, on the outskirts of Guatemala City, Guatemala. [2] [3] The crash killed at least 55 people [4] and seriously injured nine. [5]

Contents

The vehicle was operating as a commuter bus, [6] but outside of its approved route. [7] Although the bus was licensed correctly, [1] the driver did not have an appropriate license. [8] Investigators are exploring a wide range of causes, including overloading, [1] weapons, [6] drugs, [9] or mechanical problems. [6] In the aftermath of the crash, updated legislation was proposed to improve road safety, [10] after other relief efforts were underway. [11]

Background

The bus was an extra-urban transport unit owned by Transportes Tineca Sociedad Anónima. [12] It was densely occupied with more than 70 people, [1] mostly patients, pupils, as well as other passengers going to work. [6] It departed from El Progreso Department [12] [a] at around 4:00 a.m. (GMT-6). [6]

Crash

Members of the army and police participating in the search and rescue efforts 20250210 AI ACCIONES HUMANITARIAS DE PNC EJERCITO DE GUATEMALA Y CONRED PUENTE BELICE 0010.jpg
Members of the army and police participating in the search and rescue efforts

The bus was entering Guatemala City [12] when a CCTV camera caught the bus moving at high speed at 4:19:55 a.m. (GMT-6). [13] Moments later, it collided with protective railing and two automobiles before descending into the ravine [6] at around 4:30 a.m. [14] [15] The bus fell approximately 20 metres (66 ft) [b] off the Belize Bridge (Puente Belice [3] ) highway [2] into the sewage-polluted Las Vacas River. [1] [14]

The National Civil Police stated that they were supporting search and rescue efforts. [11] Mayor of Guatemala City Ricardo Quiñónez Lemus said that emergency services had been deployed while traffic police worked on establishing alternate routes in the affected area. [11]

Victims

Despite the initial report of 56 casualties, [c] [18] a list of 54 fatal victims and their ages was released the following day. [19] Fifty-three died at the scene, reportedly including the 24-year-old driver, and two died in hospital after being rescued, bringing the number of fatalities to 55. [4] Nine people remain hospitalized as of February 10, with five in one hospital and four alive in another hospital where two of the victims died. [5]

Mynor Ruano, a spokesman for the city's fire service, said that efforts were underway "to save other people who are trapped" in the wreckage. The bodies of 36 men and 15 women have been sent to a provincial morgue. [11]

Investigation

Minister of Communications, Infrastructure and Housing Miguel Ángel Díaz Bobadilla initiated an investigation that revealed the bus had been active for 30 years but still had a valid license to operate. He said that the cause of the accident was still unknown and that investigators were looking into whether the bus was overloaded with passengers. [1]

Investigators said they would check if the driver could have lost control due to brake fade. [6]

On the same day, the Public Ministry of Guatemala (Ministerio Público, MP) requested a post-mortem examination on the body of Billy Aníbal Foronda Azañón, the 24-year-old bus driver, to detect the presence of possible drugs. [9] [6] Preliminary investigations determined that his driver's license was for light noncommercial vehicles, not mass transit. [8] [15] The bus also was at an unapproved route. [7]

In addition, police found a gun in the wreckage, raising speculation that the driver may have been threatened with the gun. National Civil Police deputy director-general Helver Beltetón said the weapon was registered to a deceased passenger who worked as a private security guard, adding that "the brakes could have failed but we're also not ruling out an accident or a criminal act; all that will be investigated". [6]

By February 15, the wreckage still remained at the accident site as the MP prosecutors continued to inspect it. [20]

Reactions

Domestic

President Bernardo Arévalo declared three days of national mourning and deployed the Guatemalan army along with the disaster agency to provide response efforts. [11] [21]

President of the Congress of Guatemala Nery Ramos lamented that "more than four dozen Guatemalans lost their lives in search of daily sustenance". [11]

During an interview on TV Azteca Guate, deputy César Dávila stressed that a proposal to support victims' families was submitted at a meeting with parliamentary group leaders of the Congress. He also pointed out that they have discussed updating the traffic code, in force since 1996, to improve road safety and hold carriers responsible. [10]

Father Rigoberto Pérez, a vicar in Guatemala City and a longtime communications officer in the Guatemalan Catholic Church, stated the tragedy revealed the risks and disorganization that many Guatemalan workers face everyday. [7]

International

Governments such as those of Taiwan, [22] Nicaragua, [23] the Maldives, [24] and El Salvador [25] expressed their condolences to the victims' families and the Guatemalan people.

Pope Francis sent an apostolic blessing in a message read by Francisco Montecillo Padilla, the Apostolic Nuncio to Guatemala, during a mass at the Cathedral of Guatemala City in memory of the victims of the accident. [26] [27]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Divergent sources reported that the bus departed from either San Agustín Acasaguastlán or San Antonio La Paz in that department. [1] [6]
  2. ↑ Other sources give 35 metres (115 ft) [16] [17]
  3. ↑ Guatemala City Fire Department spokesman Carlos Hernández said that 52 died at the scene, and four died in hospital.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "At least 55 dead after Guatemala bus plunges into ravine". France 24. February 10, 2025. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "At least 50 die in Guatemala after bus plunges off bridge". CNN. February 10, 2025. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
  3. 1 2 "Al menos 55 muertos en Guatemala tras la caída de un autobús desde un puente". France 24 (in Spanish). February 10, 2025. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  4. 1 2 "Guatemala police investigate bus crash which killed 55". BBC. February 11, 2025. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  5. 1 2 "Listado de sobrevivientes del accidente en Puente Belice reciben atención médica". TV Azteca GUATE (in Spanish). February 10, 2025. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Guatemala police investigate bus crash which killed 55". BBC News. February 11, 2025. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 "Church expresses solidarity with victims' families, demands answers after Guatemala bus crash". Detroit Catholic. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  8. 1 2 "Piloto del bus accidentado en el puente Belice conducía con licencia tipo C, confirman autoridades". Prensa Libre (in Spanish). Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  9. 1 2 "MP solicita análisis toxicológicos al piloto del bus accidentado en Puente Belice". TV Azteca GUATE (in Spanish). February 10, 2025. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  10. 1 2 "Estado de la Nación; Transporte público y el seguro contra terceros". TV Azteca GUATE (in Spanish). February 12, 2025. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "At least 51 people killed in Guatemala bus crash". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on February 10, 2025. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
  12. 1 2 3 "DGT brinda datos de bus accidentado y pide investigar para determinar responsabilidades". Emisoras Unidas (in Spanish). February 10, 2025. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  13. ↑ "VIDEO: Revelan momento exacto previo a caer bus a hondonada en la zona 6". TV Azteca GUATE (in Spanish). February 10, 2025. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  14. 1 2 García, Jody; Abi-Habib, Maria. "Bus Plunges off Bridge in Guatemala City, Killing at Least 53". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 10, 2025. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
  15. 1 2 "Los detalles que da PNC sobre el piloto y la licencia que portaba para conducir bus accidentado en zona 6". LaHora.gt (in Spanish). February 10, 2025. Retrieved February 11, 2025.
  16. ↑ "At least 51 are dead after a bus plunged off a bridge in Guatemala". www.9news.com.au. February 11, 2025. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  17. ↑ "At least 51 die in Guatemala after bus plunges off bridge". The Independent. February 10, 2025. Retrieved February 18, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Bus plunges off a Guatemala bridge, killing at least 56 passengers". CBS News. Archived from the original on February 11, 2025. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Los rostros de una tragedia: el duelo nacional por las 54 víctimas de un viaje sin retorno". Prensa Libre (in Spanish). February 11, 2025. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Bus accidentado bajo el puente Belice sigue bajo resguardo del MP por peritajes". Pensa Libre (in Spanish). February 15, 2025. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
  21. ↑ "Qué significa luto nacional en Guatemala: la medida que decretó Bernardo Arévalo por el accidente de bus que dejó 54 fallecidos". Prensa Libre (in Spanish). February 10, 2025. Retrieved February 10, 2025.
  22. ↑ "Taiwan expresses condolences over fatal Guatemala bus accident". Taiwan Express. February 11, 2025. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  23. ↑ "Nicaragua envía sus condolencias a Guatemala por el mortal accidente de un autobús". Swissinfo (in Spanish). February 11, 2025. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  24. ↑ "President Conveys Condolences Following Guatemala Bus Incident". The President's Office. February 11, 2025. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  25. ↑ "El Salvador extiende sus condolencias a Guatemala por tragedia vial que dejó más de 50 fallecidos". Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores (in Spanish). February 10, 2025. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  26. ↑ "Papa Francisco envía mensaje por fallecidos en accidente bajo puente Belice y pide por la recuperación de los heridos". Prensa Libre (in Spanish). February 13, 2025. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  27. ↑ "Papa Francisco envía bendición apostólica tras tragedia en Guatemala". TV Azteca GUATE (in Spanish). February 13, 2025. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
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