Quito, April 16 (NationPress) An unfortunate incident in southern Ecuador has resulted in the deaths of at least 11 individuals and left 22 others injured after an interprovincial bus went off course and plunged into a river, according to officials.

This tragic accident occurred on Wednesday along the Cuenca-Molleturo route, close to the El Chorro bridge in Cuenca canton. The bus reportedly broke through guardrails before falling into a shallow river, as detailed by the Cuenca fire department.

Images circulating on social media revealed that the bus later ignited and was completely engulfed in flames.

Emergency response teams, including firefighters, the Red Cross, and medical personnel, were promptly dispatched to the site to assist the injured and retrieve the deceased.

Fire Chief Sixto Heras of Cuenca reported that some victims were found inside the bus while others were recovered from the river. Several of the injured individuals are in critical condition.

Authorities have indicated that the death toll may increase as recovery operations progress. The investigation into the accident's cause is ongoing, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

Due to the ongoing rescue efforts, the road has been closed. Traffic accidents remain a significant cause of fatalities in Ecuador, often attributed to speeding and driver negligence, according to official sources.

Previously, on November 16, 2025, a bus crash in Simiatug, located in central Ecuador, claimed the lives of at least 12 people and injured at least 10, as stated by the country's disaster agency on social media.

The bus was operating on an interprovincial route between the towns of Simiatug and Ambato, as noted by the attorney general's office.

Ecuador faces one of the highest rates of road accidents in Latin America, primarily due to reckless driving, speeding, and poorly maintained vehicles. The country has witnessed numerous fatalities, including among foreign nationals. Road conditions in Ecuador vary significantly.

In the first quarter of 2025, data from the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC) recorded 4,759 traffic accidents. This reflects a 2.24 percent decrease compared to the same timeframe last year.

The predominant cause remains poor driving skills and negligence. During this period, 1,814 accidents were attributed to human error.

Despite a slight decline in incidents, 565 fatalities were reported from January to March, yielding a death rate of 11.87 per 100 registered accidents. Most of these incidents—61.88 percent—occurred in urban settings.