Eight people are confirmed dead and 16 others injured after a Monday bus crash into a cliff in the Peruvian province of Chumbivilcas, located in the southern region of Cusco. The tragedy unfolded early in the morning as local residents and officials began processing the scene.
At approximately 6:30 am local time, a public transport bus veered off the road, plunged down the cliff, and tumbled, finally coming to a halt about 50 meters from its initial path. Police units from Cusco reported that the vehicle rolled multiple times before coming to rest, and emergency teams transported the injured to a nearby hospital for urgent care. The casualties were confirmed as responders reached the wreckage and assessed passengers and crew on board.
The bus, operated by the Olivare shipping company, commonly serves the route from Cusco city to Chamaca, a town nestled in the Andean highlands. In recent days, road closures linked to nationwide protests forced drivers to alter their usual routes. In this instance, the driver chose a diversion that would allow the journey to proceed despite the disrupted road network, according to reports from La República. The decision to take an alternative path is now under scrutiny as authorities review the sequence of events leading to the crash.
Peruvian police teams worked through the morning to identify those who died and determine the identities of the injured. A formal investigation has been launched to establish the exact cause of the accident and to assess whether road conditions, detours, or other factors contributed to the incident. Local authorities stressed that the safety of public transport remains a priority and promised comprehensive inquiries to prevent similar outcomes in the future. Attribution Andean News Agency.