Mexico: 29 Dead, 19 Injured Following a Bus Crash in Oaxaca
At least 29 people were killed early Wednesday when a bus they were riding in lost control and careened off the road into a ditch in southern Mexico. Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP via Getty Images

In a tragic incident, a bus crash occurred in southern Mexico during the early hours of Wednesday morning, resulting in the loss of at least 29 lives and leaving 19 others injured, as confirmed by state officials, according to Reuters.

The bus was en route from Mexico City and was traversing through southern Oaxaca state when the accident transpired at approximately 6:30 am.

According to Jesus Romero, the state interior minister, the driver is believed to have lost control of the vehicle, leading to the crash in the town of Magdalena Penasco.

Following the collision, 14 individuals were immediately taken to a local hospital in the town of Tlaxiaco for medical treatment.

Additionally, five others who sustained injuries were airlifted to the state capital of Oaxaca City, as reported by officials.

Mexico Bus Crash Caused by Driver's Fatigue and Lack of Skill

In statements made to a local television station, Romero indicated that the accident appears to have been caused by a combination of driver's fatigue and lack of skill, AP reports.

Photographs released by the police show the bus overturned, with the passenger compartment completely crushed, indicating the severity of the crash.

The bus departed from Mexico City to transport passengers to several small, isolated mountain villages in the economically disadvantaged Mixteca region.

Based on the route taken by the bus and the belongings, packages, and baskets scattered amidst the wreckage, it can be inferred that the victims were individuals who worked in manual labor in the capital and were returning to their hometowns.

Mexico's Southern Region Witnesses Several Deadly Crashes

This incident adds to a series of fatal crashes that have claimed numerous lives in the southern regions of Mexico, highlighting the dangers posed by steep and winding roads where accidents resulting in fatalities are unfortunately frequent.

In April, a tragic accident occurred when a bus drove off a cliff in western Mexico, resulting in the loss of 18 lives.

In December 2021, a truck carrying approximately 166 people crashed in Chiapas, resulting in the deaths of 54 individuals and leaving many others injured.

Notably, this incident involved many migrants who were tightly packed inside the truck, emphasizing the perilous conditions faced by migrants attempting clandestine journeys through countries in Latin America, such as Mexico.

In response to the recent crash in Magdalena Penasco, Oaxaca State Highway Police director Toribio Lopez Sanchez urged motorists to exercise extreme caution in the area and give way to traffic.

Governor Salomón Jara Cruz expressed deep regret over the incident, and government personnel have been mobilized to conduct rescue operations and provide support to the injured individuals.

Oaxaca, Mexico is a popular vacation spot due to its proximity to the pre-Hispanic site of Monte Alban and its many attractions, including its beaches, mountains, and the rich cultural traditions of the Zapotec and Mixtec people, dayFREURO noted.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

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