In Guatemala City, a tragic incident occurred as a bus careened off a highway bridge into a polluted ravine early Monday morning, claiming the lives of at least 51 individuals and leaving survivors trapped, as reported by a spokesperson from the city's fire department.
The overcrowded bus was en route from the town of San Agustin Acasaguastlan to the capital on a busy road, plummeting around 20 meters from Puente Belice, a highway bridge spanning over a road and creek.
According to spokesperson Carlos Hernandez, 36 men and 15 women were among the deceased, with their bodies transported to a provincial morgue designated for the accident.
Social media posts by the fire department depicted the bus partially submerged in wastewater, surrounded by the victims' bodies.
In response to the tragedy, Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo declared three days of national mourning and mobilized the army and disaster agency to aid in relief efforts.
Expressing his condolences, Arevalo shared on social media, "I stand in solidarity with the families of the victims who today woke up to heartbreaking news. Their pain is my pain."