At least 14 people have died and 29 others injured after a bus veered off the road and plunged into a ravine in southern Ecuador, authorities confirmed.
The accident occurred in the Molleturo area of Azuay province, near the city of Cuenca, Ecuador’s third-largest urban centre.
According to emergency responders, the bus lost control along the Cuenca–Molleturo highway before crashing into the ravine.
“At this time, the number of people who have died on the Cuenca–Molleturo highway has risen to 14, and the number of injured to 29,” the ECU911 said in a statement.
Rescue teams were quickly dispatched to the scene and continued search efforts amid fears that more victims could be trapped.
“Personnel from the coordinated agencies are at the scene searching for more people who may have lost their lives,” the agency added.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the total number of passengers who were on board at the time of the crash.
Road accidents remain a major public safety concern in Ecuador, with official data showing that more than 2,000 people lost their lives in traffic accidents last year, slightly down from a record 2,373 deaths recorded in 2023.
Investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing.
