At least 18 individuals lost their lives in western Mexico after a passenger bus veered off a highway and fell into a ravine early on Thursday, according to state officials. The majority of the passengers were foreigners, and some were en route to the United States border.
The bus, which was headed towards the northern border town of Tijuana, was carrying approximately 42 passengers, including individuals from India, the Dominican Republic, and various African nations.
Authorities from the Nayarit state government have detained the bus driver, suspecting him of driving at excessive speed while navigating a bend in the road, as stated in an official statement.
As of Thursday afternoon, officials were still in the process of identifying the deceased individuals.
Around 20 injured individuals have been transported to hospitals for medical treatment, with one woman's condition being described as "critical," according to the state government.
The accident occurred near Barranca Blanca on the highway outside the state capital of Tepic, involving a bus from the Elite passenger line.
Rescue operations have been exceedingly challenging due to the substantial depth of the ravine, which measures approximately 40 meters (131 ft), according to Jorge Benito Rodriguez, the secretary of security and civil protection for Nayarit.
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