Bolivia bus collision leaves 37 dead, 30 injured

Authorities are awaiting the results of alcohol tests conducted on both drivers

At least 37 people have lost their lives, and 30 others have been injured in a devastating bus crash near Uyuni, Bolivia, early Saturday, police confirmed, according to a report by BBC

The accident occurred about five kilometers from Uyuni in the Potosí department when two passenger buses collided head-on due to a reported "lane invasion," according to BBC citing local media. One of the buses was en route to Oruro, where the renowned Oruro Carnival—one of Latin America's largest festivals—was taking place.

Police commander Wilson Flores stated that one of the drivers is in intensive care, while the other is in stable condition. Authorities are awaiting the results of alcohol tests conducted on both drivers, the report adds.

Images circulating in Bolivian media show the wreckage of a bus with its exterior ripped apart and luggage strewn across the roadside. Emergency teams recovered the vehicles by 10:00 AM local time (14:00 GMT), and the injured were transported to hospitals in Oruro and Potosí.

The identities of the deceased have not yet been confirmed, and the condition of those injured remains unclear.

Bolivia has a troubling history of deadly road accidents, particularly in the mountainous Potosí region. Just last month, over 30 people died when a bus plunged nearly 800 meters into a ravine between Potosí and Oruro, BBS added. A similar tragedy in January claimed 19 lives when a bus veered off the road in the same area.