In total, 16 people died when the bus they were traveling on crashed into a cliff in the northern region of Nicaragua. The nation’s police reported the tragedy on Thursday. Authorities confirmed the accident occurred Wednesday night on a winding hillside known as La Cucamonga, in the Estelí department, about 170 kilometers north of Managua. The official report released this morning lists 11 men and 5 women among the victims, including 13 Venezuelan nationals, one Nicaraguan, and two unidentified individuals.
Nicaraguan Vice President Rosario Murillo stated that the government is awaiting contact with relatives to determine the Venezuelan government’s arrangements. She emphasized the importance of listening to families and following their wishes before any transfer back to their homeland.
Forty-seven injured people who were not identified by authorities received care at San Juan de Dios Hospital in Estelí. Among the survivors, a 3-year-old girl named Adalin Valeria is reported to be the daughter of Jordán José Castellano Castillo and Cinthia Ninoska Rojas, according to the preliminary accounts.
Police officials indicated that excessive speed likely caused the bus to go off the road, colliding with two light vehicles, one of which toppled over. The 46-year-old bus driver, Alfredo Palma, and an unnamed assistant were injured and taken into custody at the scene.
The National Police confirmed that the bus was traveling northbound, but some witnesses suggested that the vehicle was part of a migrant journey towards the Honduran border. They were reportedly close to that border, with officials from the Directorate-General for Immigration and Aliens actively involved in the response. Two people remained unidentified as the investigation continued. Nicaragua sits along a vital land corridor for people and goods moving across the American continent, given its geographical position.
Beyond Castellano and Rojas, other Venezuelan victims identified include 45-year-old Judith Maritza Cáceres Contreras, 44-year-old Franyel José Pérez Urroa, 43-year-old Alexis Rodolfo Scrap, 39-year-old Arístides Brillembourg Arambulo, and 38-year-old Jackson Jahir Somoza Niño. Also listed were 38-year-old Joselyn Mariajosé Martel Bermúdez, 37-year-old Dalia Elena Soler Cortez, 36-year-old Neomar Sulem Marquez Flores, 31-year-old Antony Enrique Romero Romero, 30-year-old Eyner Edgardo Rodríguez Molina, and 20-year-old Juleana Beatriz Quiñónez Martel. The Nicaraguan national identified in the incident was Lorenzo Alberto Mejía Leiva, aged 42.
La Cucamonga, a segment of the Pan-American Highway bordered by cliffs and unstable walls, has a history of periodic accidents. The road is a crucial connection that links the Nicaraguan border region with the rest of the country, making safety measures and ongoing monitoring especially important for travelers and freight moving through this corridor.