A bus plunged into a ravine early Monday near Guatemala City, killing at least 51 passengers and leaving 20 others seriously injured, officials reported.
The incident occurred when the vehicle veered off a highway and plummeted into the ravine, according to city officials. Fire department photographs showed rescue workers extracting passengers from the overturned bus at the bottom of the ravine.
Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo immediately mobilized the army and national disaster relief agency to assist with rescue operations. The president announced plans to declare a period of national mourning in response to the tragedy.
“I stand in solidarity with the families of the victims who today woke up to heartbreaking news. Their pain is my pain,” Arevalo said in an official statement.
Emergency services continue their response efforts at the crash site, with authorities working to identify victims and notify families.
The accident marks one of the deadliest transportation disasters in recent Guatemalan history.
