LIMA: At least 35 people were killed Wednesday when a bus veered off a mountain road and plunged into a ravine in southern Peru, the interior ministry said.

At least 20 other passengers were injured when the bus left the Pan-American highway and tumbled 80 metres down a jagged slope in the southern region of Arequipa.

“So far the bus accident has left 35 dead and 20 injured,” the Interior Ministry announced on Twitter, quoting Arequipa police chief General Walter Ortiz.

Ortiz “specified that 45 people were registered as passengers on the bus.

However, this does not match the number of people killed and injured,” the ministry said.

State news agency Andina had earlier reported at least 20 people dead and 20 injured in the crash. The accident happened around 1.30 am (0630 GMT).

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2018