At least 16 lifeless and 20 injured after college bus crashed off cliff in Columbia
At least 16 people were killed and 20 were injured after a school bus carrying children and adults crashed off a cliff in northern Colombia.
In a post on X on Sunday, the governor of Antioquia, Andres Julian, said the bus was traveling from the Caribbean town of Tolu to Medellin after a school trip and was carrying students from the Liceo Antioqueño High School.
‘So far, more than a dozen people are reported deceased and 20 injured, Julian said. ‘The entire hospital network has been activated to attend to and support this emergency.’
The accident occurred around 5.40am on a road connecting Remedios and Zaragoza, in the El Chispero area, according to El Colombiano.
Initial reports indicate the vehicle, which had been carrying 45 passengers, rolled approximately 80 metres down a ravine, for reasons that are still under investigation.
The school has clarified that the outing was not an official school activity and was organised directly by the students.
Among the fatalities was the bus driver, identified locally as Johnatan Taborda Cocacolo, who worked for the tourist transportation company Precultur.
Members of the Antioquia tourism network mourned his death and expressed their condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.
Initial reports indicate the vehicle, which had been carrying 45 passengers, rolled approximately 80 metres down a ravine, for reasons that are still under investigation
Among the fatalities was the bus driver, identified locally as Johnatan Taborda Cocacolo, who worked for the tourist transportation company Precultur
Industry sources indicated that the driver was returning from the Caribbean coast to Medellín at the time of the accident.
The mayor of Segovia, Edwin Castañeda, reported that the injured, whose ages range from 16 to 27, were distributed between hospitals in Segovia and Remedios.
Sixteen injured people were admitted to the San Vicente de Paúl Hospital in Remedios, including four adults and twelve teenagers.
Following the incident, the Antioqueño High School issued a statement on its social media channels, saying: ‘We deeply regret what happened to our students and their families.
‘Students from the graduating class of 2025 who participated in the graduation trip, we embrace them in this moment of great sorrow and offer our support to our entire community.’
he school also changed its profile picture to a black ribbon, symbolising mourning for the victims of the bus accident in the municipality of Remedios.
Pictured: he group of students who organised a trip to celebrate their graduation prior to the bus crash
The National Road Safety Agency added in a press release that it ‘deeply regrets the road accident that occurred on the Segovia-Antioquia highway, within the jurisdiction of the municipality of Remedios, involving a public transport bus.
‘At this time, the competent authorities are conducting investigations to determine the causes of the accident and confirm the number of fatalities and injuries.’
The agency added that ‘the Ministry of Transportation and the National Road Safety Agency reiterate that the conscious and responsible behavior of all road users saves lives.
‘We remind everyone of the importance of respecting traffic laws and avoiding risky behavior on the roads, in order to prevent tragedies like this one, which deeply impact Colombian families.’
