Fatal Bus Accident in Ecuador Claims 21 Lives and Injures 40 in Weekend Ravine Plunge

Traffic accidents remain one of the primary causes of mortality in Ecuador, as demonstrated by a recent tragic incident (Representational).

A devastating bus accident in Ecuador claimed the lives of twenty-one individuals and left forty others injured when the vehicle fell into a ravine over the weekend, officials confirmed Monday.

The incident occurred on Sunday as the bus traveled between the central towns of Guaranda and Ambato. Initially, authorities reported twelve fatalities from the accident.

By Monday morning, the ECU911 emergency service updated their statement, indicating that the death toll had "unfortunately risen to 21." No explanation for the accident was provided.

In Ecuador, traffic-related incidents rank among the most significant causes of death, with statistics showing one fatality every four hours.

According to official data, the first five months of 2025 alone witnessed 4,756 traffic accidents resulting in 565 deaths across the South American country.

Last year, approximately 2,300 people lost their lives in traffic-related incidents, with more than one-third of these fatalities attributed to driver inexperience or recklessness.