Tragic Bus Crash in Guatemala Kills 51, Plunges 115 Feet Into Ravine

Rescue teams work tirelessly at the site of a tragic bus accident in Guatemala, where at least 40 people lost their lives after the vehicle plunged off a bridge.

At least 51 people have died after a bus plunged off a bridge on the outskirts of Guatemala City before dawn on Monday.

According to firefighting spokesman Edwin Villagran, a multi-vehicle crash caused the bus to veer off the highway and fall 115 feet (35 meters) into a sewage-polluted stream, where it landed upside down and half-submerged.

Many others sustained serious injuries, and children were among the victims, an official confirmed.

The bus had departed from Progreso, about 58 miles northeast of the capital, before the deadly accident.

Rescue teams work at the scene of a tragic vehicle accident in Guatemala, as the nation prepares for a period of mourning declared by President Bernardo Arevalo.

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo expressed solidarity with the victims’ families and announced plans to declare a period of national mourning.

"I stand in solidarity with the families of the victims who today woke up to heartbreaking news. Their pain is my pain," Arevalo said in a statement.