At least 15 people were killed and another 15 injured after an intermunicipal bus plunged into a ravine in Guatemala, authorities said on Saturday, as the government announced a three-day period of national mourning.

The crash occurred late Friday near the town of Totonicapán along the Interamerican Highway, a major route linking several regions of the country. Rescue teams worked for more than two hours to retrieve bodies from the ravine and evacuate injured passengers. Those hurt in the accident were taken to nearby hospitals, where they remain under treatment.

President Bernardo Arévalo expressed his condolences over the incident, saying the government was mobilizing resources to support victims and their families. “I deeply regret this tragic event on the Interamerican Route,” he said in a message posted on social media.

Deadly traffic accidents are frequent in Guatemala, particularly in mountainous areas where roads are often narrow and safety regulations are weakly enforced. Many communities rely on public transport operating on two-lane highways that can be hazardous, especially at night.

In October, the government’s National Transportation Safety Observatory reported that 446 public transport vehicles were involved in traffic accidents across the country in 2025. Those incidents left 111 people dead and more than 600 others injured by October.

Source: AP