At least 17 killed, 30 injured in central Peru passenger bus crash

At least 17 people were killed and some 30 injured after a passenger bus fell into a ravine in central Peru, the head of the country`s traffic police said.

The crash occurred on Thursday some 400 km (250 miles) to the northeast of the country`s capital of Lima after the bus with some 50 passengers plunged into a 500 meters (1,640 feet) deep ravine, Gen. Bruno de Benedetti told the country`s RPP radio station.

He added that 15 people died at the scene of the accident while two more died later in a hospital. Twenty five more people, including eight children, sustained grave injuries and remain hospitalized.

Poor roads, old vehicles, and drivers who illegally buy driving licenses are often blamed for traffic accidents in Peru. According to official statistics, traffic accidents claim the lives of almost 4,000 people annually, with some 50,000 receiving injuries.

Accidents also put additional strain on the country`s economy, inflicting economic losses of about $1 billion annually.

sections: Accidents