A tragic incident unfolded as a Mexico bus crash claimed the lives of at least 16 individuals and left 36 others injured, local authorities confirmed Tuesday, according to Click2Houston.

The bus, predominantly carrying Venezuelan migrants, collided with a freight truck in the central part of Mexico.

A significant portion of the victims were passengers on the bus, and the majority of them hailed from Venezuela.

The unfortunate event occurred during the early hours of Tuesday on a highway heading south towards Oaxaca state. This particular route is frequently utilized by individuals engaged in migrant smuggling.

Accidents involving such vehicles aren't uncommon in Mexico, given that smugglers often employ unsafe vehicles, drivers, and overcrowding practices or attempt to elude law enforcement.

These factors contribute to the heightened risk of accidents on the road.

READ NEXT: 29 Dead, 19 Injured in Mexico Bus Crash 

The Mexico Bus Crash

The cause behind the Mexico bus crash remains unknown at this time. However, the prosecutor's office has expressed its intent to initiate an investigation led by experts to unravel the sequence of events leading to the crash and ascertain if any parties bear responsibility, CNN noted.

Oaxaca Governor Salomón Jara Cruz has taken a proactive stance in the aftermath of the tragedy.

He has directed the relevant authorities to collaborate and extend support to those injured in the accident.

Through X, formerly known as Twitter, he conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased and assured them of the available assistance.

"I have instructed the heads of the relevant authorities to collaborate and support the injured people," he wrote on social media. "We send a hug and condolences to the families of the deceased, to whom we will also provide all our support."

Puebla's interior ministry has also been actively engaged in communication with federal government agencies and state authorities to determine the most effective ways to offer aid to the victims.

As of now, the identities of those who lost their lives have not been promptly established.

Nevertheless, information from government sources suggests that a majority of the passengers were of Venezuelan origin.

The identity of the bus driver has yet to be disclosed, and the entity responsible for organizing the journey remains unknown, said Al Jazeera.

10 Passengers in Mexico Bus Crash Were Venezuelans Seeking Legal Entry to US

Among the 52 passengers on the ill-fated bus, it has been revealed that 10 were Venezuelan nationals.

Their journey held a specific purpose: they were en route to appointments aimed at securing legal entry into the United States, according to Mexico's migration institute, INM.

Of the individuals injured in the crash, nine were also of Venezuelan nationality, and three of them are still under medical care in a hospital setting.

The INM has pledged its assistance in facilitating the repatriation of the deceased Venezuelan, as reported by ABC.

A significant number of migrants, driven by the desire to escape poverty and violence in Central America, attempt to traverse Mexico each year with the goal of reaching the United States.

Often, migrants utilize trucks and buses to traverse Mexico on their way to the US border. Tragically, accidents involving such vehicles are a recurrent issue in Mexico.

In a previous incident in July, a van carrying Honduran migrants crashed on a road along Mexico's southern gulf coast, resulting in the loss of five lives and injuries to 18 others.

Another Mexico bus crash in February claimed the lives of 17 migrants when the bus they were traveling in crashed in Puebla.

The year 2021 also witnessed a devastating accident as a truck transporting migrants overturned on a highway near the southern city of Tuxtla Gutiérrez, leading to the tragic deaths of 56 individuals.

READ MORE: 39 Dead After Migrant Bus Plunges Into Ravine 

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Over a dozen migrants, locals killed in Mexico bus crash - From Reuters