At least 55 people were killed when a bus carrying more than 70 passengers plunged into a ravine on the outskirts of Guatemala City early Monday, February 10, 2025. The bus, traveling from San Agustin Acasaguastlan, northeast of the capital, fell 115 feet into a sewage-polluted stream below the Belice Bridge after colliding with multiple vehicles.
Authorities confirmed the rising death toll as rescue teams worked for over six hours to recover bodies from the wreckage. Guatemala’s National Institute of Forensic Sciences (INACIF) reported that 23 victims had been identified, with the cause of death listed as polytrauma. The morgue in Zone 3 held 14 bodies awaiting identification, including three children, while 35 bodies had been returned to their families by Monday night, according to the National Civil Police.
Emergency responders, including municipal firefighters, police, and the Red Cross, faced significant challenges during recovery. Rescuers used headlamps and flashlights to navigate the dark and hazardous conditions. Volunteer firefighter Luis Quintanilla stated that some responders suffered hypothermia due to the need for underwater recovery efforts.
Images from the scene reveal the bus overturned on its roof with its wheels facing upward in shallow water.
According to local reports, the bus was carrying a mix of students, workers commuting, and individuals traveling to the capital for medical appointments. The driver, aged 24, is said to be among the deceased.
Guatemala City Mayor Ricardo Quiñónez confirmed that emergency services had been deployed to the scene to clear the area and establish alternate routes. The Guatemalan Red Cross provided psychological support to grieving families, who gathered at a makeshift morgue near the accident site.
President Bernardo Arévalo addressed the tragedy on X, calling it a “national pain.” He stated, “I stand in solidarity with the families of the victims who woke up today with heartbreaking news. Their pain is my pain.” Arévalo announced a national mourning period and ordered the mobilization of the National Army and the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED) to assist with the response.
CONRED executive secretary Claudinne Ogaldes confirmed that the search and rescue operations had concluded, with the local emergency center in Zone 6 remaining active. She urged the public to rely on official sources for updates.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash. Communications Minister Miguel Ángel Díaz revealed that the bus was a 1995 model with a valid operating license, but its structural integrity and passenger load capacity are under review. “There has been speculation that it was overloaded, however, that is something yet to be determined,” he said at a press conference. The Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation to establish the incident’s facts.
Residents near the crash site expressed shock and grief. Marbelin Ortiz, a local waitress, described the incident as “a very great, very painful tragedy.” Rosa López, 48, tearfully shared that four of her nephews had been on the bus. “When we heard about the accident on the news, we came here,” she said from outside the morgue.
The disaster marks one of the deadliest bus crashes in Guatemala in recent years. In 2013, a bus accident in Chimaltenango resulted in 43 deaths, while another in 2008 claimed 48 lives. Guatemala’s roadways are known for frequent accidents due to poor infrastructure, overloaded vehicles, and limited enforcement of transportation regulations.
Another bus crash in Guatemala on December 21, 2019, resulted in at least 21 deaths and dozens of injuries. The accident occurred in Gualán, Zacapa when the bus veered off the road and overturned. Authorities reported that excessive speed and mechanical failure may have contributed to the crash.
As the nation mourns, officials continue working to support the victims’ families and determine the circumstances that led to the devastating crash.
