1st LD Writethru: Death toll in Guatemala's bus accident rises to 51

GUATEMALA CITY, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- At least 51 people were killed after a bus carrying 75 people plunged into a ravine in Guatemala City on Monday, the firefighters' spokesperson confirmed.

The vehicle, which was traveling from the village of El Rancho, hit a car and plunged into a 20-meter-deep ravine, falling directly into a stream at about 5 a.m. local time, according to local media reports.

The president of Guatemala, Bernardo Arevalo, regretted the loss of human lives in the accident and decided to decree national mourning.

"The tragedy is a national pain that I deeply regret. I sympathize with the families of the victims who woke up today with heartbreaking news. Their pain is my pain," said the president on the social platform X.

"As president, I have instructed to mobilize National Army personnel and CONRED (National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction) to attend the scene and activate special medical care criteria for the injured," he added.

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