At least 37 people died after a passenger bus in Arequipa, Peru, collided with a pickup and plunged about 200 metres into a ravine late Wednesday. The coach carried roughly 60 people; 36 died at the scene, one died later in hospital and about 20 were injured. TV Peru reported the pickup driver tested positive for alcohol. Local officials noted the stretch has seen previous deadly crashes and said a formal investigation is under way.
At least 37 killed after bus collides with pickup and plunges 200 metres into ravine in Arequipa, Peru
At least 37 people died after a passenger bus in Arequipa, Peru, collided with a pickup and plunged about 200 metres into a ravine late Wednesday. The coach carried roughly 60 people; 36 died at the scene, one died later in hospital and about 20 were injured. TV Peru reported the pickup driver tested positive for alcohol. Local officials noted the stretch has seen previous deadly crashes and said a formal investigation is under way.
01:29 PM, 11/13/2025Society
Deadly crash in Arequipa: coach collides with pickup and falls into ravine
At least 37 people have been killed and around 20 others injured after a passenger bus driving through the mountainous Arequipa region of southern Peru struck a pickup truck and plunged roughly 200 metres (650 ft) into a ravine late Wednesday night.
The coach, travelling from a nearby mining district toward the city of Arequipa, was reported to have been carrying about 60 passengers when it collided with the pickup at about 12:30am (05:30 GMT), according to public broadcaster TV Peru. Local health officials say 36 people died at the scene and one more died later in hospital.
TV Peru reported that the driver of the pickup tested positive for alcohol following post-crash checks. Photographs from the scene show the pickup's front end badly crumpled, suggesting a head-on impact, while the bus lies on its side amid scattered wreckage on rocky terrain.
Regional health manager Walther Oporto told TV Peru the location has seen a previous disaster: years ago another bus crashed at the same spot, killing about 50 people.
Authorities say Peru records a comparatively high number of road fatalities, often blaming reckless driving and hazardous mountain roads. Last year the country recorded more than 3,000 traffic deaths nationwide, according to The Associated Press. The Arequipa disaster follows several recent deadly bus incidents, including two overturnings in July and August that killed at least 28 people and a January crash in which a bus plunged into a river, killing at least six.
Emergency teams and local hospitals have been treating the injured while police investigators work at the scene to determine the full sequence of events. Authorities say a formal investigation is under way to establish the causes and whether additional safety measures or enforcement actions are needed on the route.
Note: Figures are based on official statements and media reports; they may be updated as authorities publish further information.