Dozens dead after bus falls into ravine in Guatemala

We're having a hard time with the rescue work,

said firefighter Luis Quintanilla

So far, 53 people have died at the scene,

a spokesman for the public prosecutor's office, Moises Ortiz, told reporters

When we heard about the accident on the news, we headed straight here,

the 48-year-old said

It's a huge tragedy, very painful,

40-year-old Marbelin Ortiz, a resident of the area near the accident site, told reporters

We've been underwater for more than three hours trying to rescue the body of an apparently male person who is trapped between the twisted metal of the bus,

he said

Today is a difficult day for the Guatemalan nation,

he said

Manny Acostachief

The local prosecutor’s office has informed us that the investigation will be taking effect in … the municipality of Candelaria, Campeche,

Tour’s Acosta wrote, advising relatives of the passengers to get in contact with the authorities there “to perform the relevant procedures.”

So far, only 18 [bodies] have been confirmed, but much more is missing,

Tabasco sources told Reuters on condition of anonymity, adding

We are working … in coordination with the government of Tabasco, federal authorities and the mayor of Escárcega, Juan Carlos Hernández Rath, to provide as much support as possible to the victims of this unfortunate accident,

she wrote

The bust was at capacity. It was quite full, ... When they fell, these people were on top of each other and were left with internal injuries and this caused almost instantaneous death."

said a firefighter at the scene

I have instructed the mobilization of personnel from the National Army and CONRED to assist on site and activate special criteria for medical care for the wounded, ... Furthermore, I have decided to declare a period of national mourning, which will soon be formalized by government agreement."

Arévalo said in a statement on X

I stand in solidarity with the families of the victims who today woke up to heartbreaking news. Their pain is my pain,

Arévalo said on social media

Carlos Hernández (footballer, born 1982)president of the Central American Parliament

The bus kept going, broke through a metal railing, and fell into a ravine about 20 meters (65 feet) deep until it reached the sewage-contaminated river,

Hernandez said

We are attentive to the federal and state authorities to help with whatever they request,

said Ovidio Peralta, the mayor of Comalcalco, a town in Tabasco

Javier May Rodríguezgovernor

We are very sorry for the accident that occurred this morning,

said the governor of the state of Tabasco, Javier May, on the social media network X

We have lost very dear colleagues as well as clients and friends,

it said in a statement

Our condolences go out to the affected families,

it said in a post