At least 37 people lost their lives, and 39 others sustained injuries in a tragic bus crash in Bolivia’s Potosi region, Al Jazeera reported, citing police and local officials. The accident occurred around 7 AM local time on Saturday on the road between Uyuni and Colchani.
Authorities stated that one of the buses veered into the opposite lane, resulting in a head-on collision. Uyuni, known as the gateway to Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flat, attracts thousands of tourists every year.
A spokesperson for the Departmental Police Command of Potosi confirmed the casualties. “As a result of this fatal accident, we have 39 people injured in four hospitals in the town of Uyuni, and 37 people have lost their lives,” the spokesperson said. Police are working to identify the victims and those hospitalized.
One of the buses was en route to Oruro, where a major carnival celebration was underway. Authorities suspect that one of the drivers, who survived the crash, had been drinking before the accident. Some passengers reportedly saw him consuming alcohol.
Images captured by Radio Uyuni showed police rescuing survivors from the wreckage, while bodies covered in blankets lay scattered across the Andean highlands.
Bolivia’s mountainous terrain, poorly maintained roads, and lack of stringent supervision contribute to frequent accidents. The country records an average of 1,400 road fatalities annually, making its highways some of the deadliest in the world.
The tragedy comes as Bolivia grapples with severe weather conditions. Heavy rains since November have claimed 28 lives, according to Vice Civil Defence Minister Juan Carlos Calvimontes. The floods have impacted eight of the country’s nine administrative divisions, with La Paz being the worst affected. So far, 27 municipalities have declared emergencies due to the ongoing crisis.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the bus crash while monitoring the broader impact of the extreme weather across Bolivia.