A passenger bus carrying 46 people plunged approximately 2,600 feet into a steep ravine in southwestern Bolivia on Monday morning, February 17, 2025, killing at least 30 passengers and seriously injuring at least 14 others in what officials are calling the country’s deadliest transportation accident of the past year.
The devastating crash occurred at 11:45 a.m. on a treacherous mountain highway connecting the historic mining city of Potosí (population 170,000) to Oruro, a regional transportation hub of 265,000 residents. The accident site is located in Bolivia’s Yocalla district, where the narrow two-lane road winds through high-altitude terrain notorious for its hazardous driving conditions.
A police officer at Daniel Bracamonte Hospital in Potosí explained that the bus driver likely lost control of the vehicle on a “twisting and turning” section, sending it plummeting over 2,600 feet down a steep precipice in the southwestern municipality of Yocalla. The officer suggested that excessive speed most likely affected the driver’s ability to stay on the road.
The impact was devastating, and when emergency responders first arrived, they counted 31 bodies among the wreckage. However, as recovery teams carefully worked through the debris, officials later confirmed that the actual death toll was 30.
Among the 14 survivors, four were children who sustained serious injuries. Medical officials confirmed that two adult passengers required immediate intensive care treatment. In a video update, the hospital administrator shared that several of the injured are still in serious condition, with doctors closely monitoring them and doing everything possible to stabilize their health.
Emergency response teams, including local police, firefighters, and medical personnel from both Potosí and Oruro, faced significant challenges accessing the crash site due to the steep terrain and remote location.
This latest incident has brought renewed attention to Bolivia’s dangerous mountain roads, particularly in mining regions. Just last month, another bus accident near Potosí resulted in 19 fatalities when a vehicle left the roadway under similar circumstances. Government statistics reveal that road accidents claim approximately 1,400 lives annually in Bolivia, a country of 12 million people, with a disproportionate number occurring on mountain routes.
Recovery operations are expected to continue throughout the week as teams work to retrieve victims and clear wreckage. Police officials stated that identification of victims is ongoing at the Potosí city morgue, with families being notified as confirmations are made.
