Ecuador Bus Crash Kills At Least 16 — Rescue Agency
At least 16 people were killed and eight others injured in a bus crash in Ecuador’s Loja province, near the border with Peru, according to the ECU911 rescue agency. The incident involved an interprovincial transport bus and a light car, which collided head-on, causing the bus to overturn.
Emergency responders, including firefighters, the National Police, and the Ministry of Public Health, are actively working at the scene. Local media reported that the crash occurred when the bus collided with a car traveling in the opposite direction.
Alexandra Jara, the governor of Loja, expressed her condolences to the victims’ families and assured the public that Isidro Ayora Hospital, the region’s main healthcare facility, was mobilized to assist with the emergency. A health center near the crash site was also put on alert.
In response to the crash, local police closed the road to ensure safety and facilitate rescue operations. “All state institutions remain on high alert to provide necessary support,” Governor Jara posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Isidro Ayora Hospital reported that it had received nine patients initially, one of whom had died and another was in critical condition. Those requiring surgery were promptly moved to the operating room.
Traffic accidents are a significant cause of death in Ecuador. In 2023, nearly 21,000 accidents were reported, resulting in almost 2,400 fatalities. In the first five months of 2024, over 8,400 accidents occurred, leading to 848 deaths. In September, a similar bus crash near Quito, involving 35 Indigenous people from the Waorani community, left nine dead.
