A bus crash claimed the lives of at least 17 people , including 16 high school students , on Sunday in northwestern Colombia. The students were returning from a graduation celebration.

The Facts and the Assessment

The victims were students from the municipality of Bello , near the large city of Medellín, and were returning from a beach on the Caribbean coast.

1. Circumstances of the accident: In the morning, the bus fell into a ravine of about forty meters, for a reason that remains to be determined, according to the governor of the department of Antioquia, Andres Julian Rendon.
2. Victims: The toll confirmed by an official from Bello reports the death of the vehicle's driver and 16 high school students aged 16 to 18.
3. Injuries: Twenty-two people were injured and taken to hospital. Three of them are in serious condition.
4. Testimony: A survivor recounted: "I was sleeping and suddenly I heard screams and from then on, I don't remember anything."

The images broadcast show the coach completely destroyed at the bottom of the ravine, and rescue teams taking care of the victims.

The Context and the Reactions

Colombian President Gustavo Petro expressed his condolences to the bereaved families, writing on social media: "I don't like it when young people die. Even less so when they go to study or relax in joy."

One factor complicated the rescue operations:

1. Operational security: A police source indicated that the presence of ELN guerrillas in the area forced firefighters and civil defense to implement special security measures to carry out the rescues. The far-left organization had declared a three-day lockdown in the areas under its control to protest against "imperialist intervention threats" from Washington.

According to authorities, Colombia records an average of 22 road deaths every day in 2024.