A devastating crash between two buses in Bolivia’s western Potosi region has left at least 37 people dead and 39 injured, according to police and local authorities.

The accident occurred in the early morning hours on Saturday along the route connecting the cities of Uyuni and Colchani, when one bus veered into the oncoming lane, triggering a head-on collision.

“As a result of this fatal accident, we have 39 people injured in four hospitals in the town of Uyuni, and 37 people have lost their lives,” a spokesperson for the Departmental Police Command of Potosi told reporters. Emergency response teams have been deployed to the scene, where police are working to identify both the deceased and the injured now receiving treatment.

At the crash site, a crane was used to upright one of the buses, which had rolled onto its side. Officers were observed removing bodies from the wreckage, wrapping them in blankets as they were carried away. The scale of the tragedy has left the region in mourning.

A preliminary investigation by the Bolivian Ministry of Government points to speeding as a likely cause, with one bus encroaching into the opposite lane before the collision occurred. Authorities have launched a full inquiry to determine the exact circumstances of the incident.

The injured have been distributed across four hospitals in Uyuni, where medical teams are working to provide care. As police continue their efforts to identify victims and notify families, the crash underscores the persistent dangers of road travel in the region. Further updates are expected as the investigation progresses. (ILKHA)