The tragic incident occurred early Saturday, roughly 5 kilometers from the south-western city of Uyuni, where two passenger buses collided, leading to one of the deadliest accidents in recent memory. Police reported that the crash resulted from a "lane invasion," with local media sources indicating the buses were traveling on the route between Uyuni and Colchani.
One bus was en route to Oruro, hosting the famous Oruro Carnival, a significant cultural event in Latin America. Following the accident, images circulated in Bolivian media showcasing a severely damaged bus, with its bodywork severely impacted and personal belongings strewn across the roadway.
In the aftermath, emergency services mobilized swiftly; those injured were transported to hospitals in Oruro and Potosí. The status of the injured individuals remains uncertain as investigations progress. Police Commander Wilson Flores disclosed that one driver is in intensive care while the other is stable. The law enforcement agency awaited the results of alcohol tests administered to both drivers.
Bolivia has a troubling history with traffic accidents, as evidenced by statistics indicating that over 1,400 people perish in vehicle-related incidents annually in the country, which has a population of about 12 million. Recent years have seen similar tragedies, including a severe accident earlier this year that resulted in more than 30 fatalities when a bus fell nearly 800 meters into a ravine, and another in January where 19 people lost their lives after a bus veered off the road in the same vicinity.
One bus was en route to Oruro, hosting the famous Oruro Carnival, a significant cultural event in Latin America. Following the accident, images circulated in Bolivian media showcasing a severely damaged bus, with its bodywork severely impacted and personal belongings strewn across the roadway.
In the aftermath, emergency services mobilized swiftly; those injured were transported to hospitals in Oruro and Potosí. The status of the injured individuals remains uncertain as investigations progress. Police Commander Wilson Flores disclosed that one driver is in intensive care while the other is stable. The law enforcement agency awaited the results of alcohol tests administered to both drivers.
Bolivia has a troubling history with traffic accidents, as evidenced by statistics indicating that over 1,400 people perish in vehicle-related incidents annually in the country, which has a population of about 12 million. Recent years have seen similar tragedies, including a severe accident earlier this year that resulted in more than 30 fatalities when a bus fell nearly 800 meters into a ravine, and another in January where 19 people lost their lives after a bus veered off the road in the same vicinity.
