A devastating bus accident in Peru has resulted in the deaths of at least 37 people, with dozens more injured, after the vehicle plunged into a 200-meter-deep ravine. The tragic incident occurred early Wednesday morning on a particularly treacherous section of the Pan-American Highway in the southern region of Arequipa, which connects Peru with Chile. According to local media reports, the bus, operated by the Llamosas company, was carrying 60 passengers when it collided head-on with a pickup truck on a curve. The impact caused the bus to veer off the road and plummet down to the banks of the Ocoña River. Both drivers survived the crash, which took place at kilometer 780 of the Pan-American Highway South. Images from the scene depict the bus in a severely damaged state, with shattered windows, crumpled bodywork, and a caved-in roof. Waldor Llerena, the mayor of Ocona district, described the terrain around the crash site as “very rugged” and noted a history of similar fatal accidents in the area. Health officials reported that 25 individuals, including three minors, are currently receiving treatment for their injuries in a local hospital. The Public Prosecutor’s Office has initiated an investigation into the incident, and the driver of the pickup truck has been detained. This tragedy underscores the ongoing issue of road safety in Peru, where poor road conditions, excessive speed, and inadequate safety measures frequently contribute to accidents. Official statistics from 2022 indicate that over 3,300 people lost their lives in traffic accidents in Peru. The Pan-American Highway, which spans 48,000 kilometers from Alaska to the southern tip of Argentina, holds the record as the world’s longest motorable road.