At least 41 people have died in a tragic accident involving a bus in southern Mexico, according to the government in the state of Tabasco.

The collision occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning near the small city of Escárcega, resulting in the bus being completely engulfed in flames.

Bus operator Tour's Acosta reported that the vehicle, carrying 48 passengers, was traveling from Cancun to Tabasco when it collided with a trailer. The company expressed profound sorrow over the incident and stated that it was cooperating with authorities to determine the cause of the crash, noting that the bus was within speed limits at the time.

The government of Tabasco confirmed in a statement that 41 people had died, and recovery efforts were ongoing. The public ministry has indicated that the investigation will be handled by the prosecutor's office in the municipality of Candelaria, Campeche. Relatives of the passengers have been advised to visit this office for the necessary procedures.

Recovery work continues, including efforts to identify the victims, according to the government of Tabasco. Authorities are expected to provide an update with details on the number of victims and their identities later on Saturday, said Ramiro Lopez, the secretary of government of Tabasco.

The local council, Palacio Municipal de Comalcalco, has pledged to support the transfer of the bodies of the victims involved in the passenger bus accident.

This tragic event underscores the importance of thorough investigations to prevent such incidents in the future. (ILKHA)