15 killed, 19 injured as bus plunges into ravine in Guatemala

KABUL (Pajhwok): At least 15 people have been killed and 19 others injured after a passenger bus plunged into a ravine on the Inter-American Highway in western Guatemala, media reports said on Sunday.

The crash occurred on Saturday between kilometres 172 and 194 in an area known as “Alaska Peak” in Totonicapán department, a region notorious for its rugged terrain and poor visibility, Al Jazeera reported.

The bus was travelling from Guatemala City to San Marcos department, near the Mexican border, when it fell into a ravine nearly 75 metres (250 feet) deep for unknown reasons, according to Leandro Amado, a spokesperson for local firefighters.

He said the victims included 11 men, three women and one child.

kk/sa