Honduras bus crash kills 17, injures dozens

Two buses collided in northwest Honduras on Wednesday, killing at least 17 people, as per the fire officials.

The collision occurred at first light on a winding, hilly route that had one lane in each direction. In addition, 12 more persons suffered injuries, according to AFP.

One of the buses was returning to central Honduras empty after dropping off a group of migrants on the Guatemalan border, while the smaller bus was travelling in the opposite direction, carrying people, to the city of Santa Rosa de Copan.

The wounded were brought to a hospital in Santa Rosa de Copan, which is located about 300 kilometres (186 miles) away from Tegucigalpa, the capital of the Central American nation.

Official statistics showed that road accidents rank second in Honduras after homicides. All of the victims, according to local media, were Hondurans.

Declaring on X that she had learned of the tragedy "with deep consternation ana pain," President Xiomara Castro sent her condolences to the deceased people's relatives.

"I have instructed the relevant teams and institutions to provide all the necessary support at this difficult time," she added.

On their arduous journey to the United States, thousands of migrants from South America pass through Honduras every day in pursuit of a better life.

Moreover, four migrants lost their lives when a bus in the same area fell into a ravine in October of last year.