Horror crash sees crowded bus collapse into ravine leaving dozens in hospital

A crowded bus fell into a ravine on the Inter-American Highway northeast of the Guatemalan capital. Image shows horrific damage to vehicle as people are taken away on stretchers

Many are injured after a bus fell into a ravine (

Image: @RBCNoticiasGT)

A crowded bus crashed into a ravine with emergency services transporting at least 36 people to hospital from the wreckage in Guatemala.

The bus can be seen on its side with a set of wheels having been separated and firefighters trying to free people at the crash site in Santo Domingo Xenacoj, Sacatepéquez, northeast of the capital Guatemala.

Other images show people being abducted from the wreckage which was near the Xaltaya River at the bottom of a ravine.

The National Fire Department tweeted: "After 43.5 km on the road to Santo Domingo Xenacaj, a bus fell into a ravine and there are several injuries.

"The firefighters of the municipal services are working to rescue the injured and take them to various rescue centers."

Firefighters and helpers transport a passenger from the wreckage of the bus (

Picture:

@RBCNoticiasGT)

He added that several fire units were involved in the operation to rescue people and take them to hospitals.

And a fire department spokesman, Mario Upun, told local media that passengers on the bus were still being rescued.

No explanation has yet been given on the cause of the crash.

The transport authority has now said 36 people have been taken to hospital.

He tweeted: "@ProvialOficial Police and @CIVguate are dealing with traffic, 43 km along the road in Santo Domingo Xenacoj, Sacatepéquez. Do not obstruct the road! 36 people have been transported to the hospital."

A voluntary fire brigade organization said earlier that about 22 people had been taken to hospital and the number was gradually increasing.

Bomberos Voluntarios de Guatemala tweeted: An intercity bus fell into a ravine about 44 km along the Interamerican Highway, in the jurisdiction of Santa Domingo Xenacoj, @BVoluntariosGT rescued about 22 people and took them to Chimaltenango Hospital. ..