Deadly Peru Bus Crash Kills 37 on Pan-American Highway

Published: 13 November 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

At least 37 people have died and dozens more were injured after a bus plunged into a 200-metre (650ft) ravine in southern Peru following a head-on collision, authorities reported on Wednesday.

The crash occurred in the early hours on a rugged section of the Pan-American Highway connecting Peru and Chile in the Arequipa region. According to local media, the bus, carrying 60 passengers, collided with a pickup truck on a curve before veering off the road and falling into the banks of the Ocoña River.

Bus accidents are a frequent hazard in Peru, particularly at night and along mountainous highways, often caused by poor road conditions, excessive speed, and insufficient safety signage.

The bus, operated by the Llamosas company, was traveling from Chala in Caraveli province to Arequipa. Both drivers reportedly survived the incident, which took place at kilometre 780 of the Pan-American Highway South.

Images from the scene show the wreckage at the bottom of the steep ravine, with shattered windows, badly damaged bodywork, and a caved-in roof. Waldor Llerena, Ocoña’s district mayor, described the terrain as “very rugged” and noted the area has a history of deadly accidents.

Thirty-six people died at the scene, and another victim later succumbed to injuries in hospital, Walther Oporto, Arequipa’s regional health chief, confirmed. Health officials said 25 people, including three minors, are receiving treatment in a local hospital.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office has detained the driver of the pickup truck and launched an investigation into the crash.

In 2022, Peru recorded more than 3,300 deaths in traffic accidents, highlighting the ongoing challenges of road safety in the country. The Pan-American Highway, stretching 48,000km from Alaska to Argentina, holds the record as the world’s longest road navigable by motor vehicle.