Medellin: At least 17 people have been killed after a school bus crashed and plunged into a deep ravine in the Antioquia region of Colombia, turning a return journey from a school trip into a national tragedy.
The bus was carrying students and adults back to Medellin after a visit to the Caribbean coastal town of Tolu. According to local authorities, the vehicle veered off a mountain road late on Saturday and fell nearly 80 metres into a ravine.
Emergency teams rushed to the scene and worked through the night to rescue survivors from the wreckage. Around 20 people were injured and taken to nearby hospitals, some of them in critical condition.
Officials said most of the victims were teenagers, along with a few adults who were accompanying the students. The group had reportedly been celebrating the end of their school year during the trip.
Early findings suggest the driver may have briefly fallen asleep at the wheel, but police said the exact cause of the crash is still under investigation. Road safety experts are also examining the condition of the vehicle and the steep, winding stretch of road where the accident occurred.
Antioquia Governor Andres Julian called the incident heartbreaking and said the region was mourning the loss of young lives just days before the Christmas season. He assured families that authorities would fully investigate the tragedy and provide support to the victims and their relatives.
Deadly road accidents remain a serious concern in Colombia, especially on rural highways where narrow roads and sharp curves increase the risk of fatal crashes.