At Least 37 Dead in Bolivia Following Bus Collision

LA PAZ, 2nd March 2025 – A tragic collision between two passenger buses on a highway in southern Bolivia has claimed the lives of at least 37 people, including eight minors, according to police. The incident is the deadliest bus accident in the country so far this year.

Colonel Wilson Flores confirmed to AFP that the crash occurred near the city of Uyuni in the department of Potosi, with 37 fatalities reported. Additionally, 41 people were injured and taken to nearby hospitals.

Among the deceased were six foreign nationals – five Peruvians and a three-year-old German girl. Seven other minors also lost their lives in the accident.

The crash took place early on Saturday morning on a narrow two-way road. One of the buses was en route to the city of Oruro, which was hosting the Oruro Carnival that weekend, one of Latin America’s largest and most popular festivals, drawing tens of thousands of visitors.

Potosi prosecutor Gonzalo Aparicio told the state-run news agency ABI that preliminary investigations revealed that one of the bus drivers had been drinking and was speeding when he veered into the opposite lane, colliding with the oncoming vehicle.

“At present, it is known that one of the drivers was under the influence of alcohol,” he said. A blood test was conducted after it was reported that one of the surviving drivers, who is in critical condition, was found to have “alcohol breath.”

Bolivia is known for its dangerous winding mountain roads, which are notoriously treacherous. Road accidents in the country claim the lives of an average of 1,400 people annually, according to government statistics. Potosi, in particular, accounts for 10.6 percent of all traffic fatalities in Bolivia, as reported by the Bolivian Observatory of Citizen Security.

In the year to date, Potosi has already seen 64 traffic-related deaths, according to a police report.

This latest accident comes less than two weeks after another deadly crash in southern Bolivia, when a passenger bus plunged into an 800-metre-deep ravine, killing at least 30 people. That incident also occurred on a narrow mountain road between the cities of Potosi and Oruro, a route running alongside a deep ravine.

Authorities suspect that the driver was speeding, losing control of the vehicle, while in January, 19 people died when another bus veered off the road, also near Potosi. The driver of that bus was arrested on charges of dangerous driving resulting in fatalities.

Context:

Bolivia’s geography, with its mountainous terrain and winding roads, presents significant challenges for road safety. The frequency of fatal accidents in the region has raised concerns about the need for improved road infrastructure and stricter regulations on driving practices. In a country where public transport plays a crucial role in connecting remote areas, there is growing pressure on authorities to implement more effective safety measures to protect passengers and reduce traffic-related fatalities.