Guatemala: 54 dead as bus plunges off bridge into ravine
What's the story
At least 50 people have lost their lives in a horrific bus accident in Guatemala.
The tragedy struck in the early hours of Monday, February 10, when a bus fell off Belice Bridge after colliding with two vehicles.
The bus had departed from Progreso and fell 115 feet into a sewage-contaminated ravine after crashing through a metal safety barrier.
Rescue efforts
Overcrowded bus traps survivors, rescue operations launched
The bus was carrying over 70 passengers when the accident occurred. It landed upside down and half-submerged in the stream, trapping survivors inside.
Guatemala City Mayor Ricardo Quinonez quickly sent emergency services to the scene and directed traffic police to set up alternate routes.
The Benemerito Cuerpo Voluntario de Bomberos de Guatemala carried out rescue operations, taking over six and a half hours to retrieve the bodies.
Presidential response
Guatemalan President expresses condolences, mobilizes assistance
Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo took to social media to express his condolences, calling the incident a "tragedy."
"I stand in solidarity with the families of the victims who woke up today with heartbreaking news. Their pain is my pain," he said.
The President has deployed National Army personnel and CONRED to help at the scene and announced plans to declare national mourning.
Casualty update
Death toll rises to 54
Claudinne Ogaldes from CONRED confirmed that over 50 people died in the crash. The National Civil Police later revised the death toll to 54 and said that 10 others were injured.
Ogaldes urged the public to rely on official sources for information and allow authorities to identify victims.
INACIF identified 23 bodies, citing polytrauma as their cause of death. Fourteen bodies remain unidentified, including those of three children.