Bogotá, Dec 15 (V7N) — At least 17 people were killed and 20 others injured after a school bus plunged into a deep ravine on the outskirts of Antioquia’s Anticueño area in northwestern Colombia, authorities said on Sunday.

The tragic accident occurred at around 5:45 am local time while the bus was returning from the Caribbean coastal city of Tolú to Medellín.

In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Antioquia Governor Andrés Julián Rendón said the bus veered off the road and fell into a mountain ravine approximately 80 meters deep.

“This is a very heartbreaking event for the entire community at this time of December,” the governor said.

According to local authorities, the passengers were students of Anticueño High School, who had traveled to Tolú to celebrate their graduation. The accident occurred while they were on their way back to Medellín.

Initial reports indicate that around 45 passengers were on board the bus at the time of the crash. Rescue teams rushed to the scene and transported the injured to nearby hospitals, some of them in critical condition.

School authorities clarified that the trip was not an official activity of the institution and had been organized independently by the students.

An investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of the accident, though officials have yet to confirm whether mechanical failure, road conditions, or driver error played a role.

According to Colombia’s road safety authorities, the country records an average of 22 road accident-related deaths per day, highlighting ongoing concerns over traffic safety nationwide.

END/SMA/AJ