Sucre [Bolivia]: A tragic bus accident in the Potosi region of Bolivia has resulted in the deaths of at least 37 individuals and left 39 others injured, as reported by Al Jazeera, citing local officials and police. The incident occurred around 7 AM local time on Saturday on the road connecting Uyuni and Colchani, when one of the buses crossed into oncoming traffic, causing the collision.
Uyuni serves as the access point to the Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flat, spanning over 10,000 square kilometers (3,900 square miles). A spokesperson for the Potosi Departmental Police Command stated, “As a result of this fatal accident, we have 39 injured individuals receiving treatment in four hospitals in Uyuni, and 37 fatalities have been confirmed.” Efforts are underway to identify the deceased and the injured.
One of the buses involved was en route to Oruro, where a significant carnival celebration was taking place. Authorities suspect that one of the surviving drivers may have been under the influence of alcohol, as passengers reported seeing him drink prior to the crash. Images from Radio Uyuni depicted police rescuing survivors from the wreckage, with bodies covered by blankets scattered across the Andean highlands.
Bolivia’s mountainous roads, which are often poorly maintained and inadequately supervised, rank among the deadliest globally, resulting in an average of 1,400 fatalities each year. Last month, heavy rains since November led to a rise in the death toll to 28, according to Juan Carlos Calvimontes, the vice civil defense minister. The rains have impacted eight of the country’s nine administrative divisions, affecting 83 municipalities. Currently, 27 municipalities have declared a state of emergency, with 22 of them located in La Paz, the division most severely affected by the climate crisis. The government has attributed the fatalities to flooding in various departments, including Chuquisaca (south), La Paz (west), Tarija (south), Cochabamba (central), Santa Cruz (east), and Potosi (southwest).