A festive trip ended in disaster on Christmas Eve when a packed bus plummeted more than 600ft down a steep ravine in Veracruz, Mexico. The horrific crash has killed eight people and left 19 seriously injured.
Deadly Bus Crash in Veracruz Ravine
The accident struck around 5pm local time on a treacherous mountain road in Zontecomatlan. Shocking snaps show the coach lying upside down at the bottom of a ravine, as rescue teams rushed to save terrified passengers trapped inside.
State officials confirmed emergency crews worked through the night to aid survivors. “The state government is coordinating the response to a bus accident in Zontecomatlan,” a statement said. “Nineteen injured have been taken to hospitals in Chicontepec and Huayacocotla.”
Casualties Mount as Rescue Teams Race Against Time
- Eight confirmed dead by the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
- Nineteen seriously injured rushed to local hospitals.
- Local residents first to respond, helping victims before emergency crews arrived.
Civil protection units, paramedics, and security forces all joined the frantic rescue operation shortly after the crash.
Passengers Headed Home for Christmas
The coach, run by Conexión line, had left Mexico City, bound for Chicontepec in Veracruz’s rugged Huasteca region. Many onboard were reportedly adults and children travelling home for the holidays.
The driver, named locally as Carlos Daniel Baez, may be among the casualties, though details remain unclear.
Another Tragedy in Latin America’s Deadly Bus Crash Spree
This disaster mirrors a similar tragedy just 10 days ago in Colombia. There, 17 people died when a bus carrying students celebrating their graduation plunged 250ft down a steep hillside in Antioquia.
The cause of the Veracruz crash is still under investigation as officials ongoing recovery work and support families of the victims.
