Death toll from tour bus crash in Mexico rises to 12
Xinhua,December 20, 2017 Adjust font size:
MEXICO CITY, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from a tour bus flipping over on its way to Mayan ruins in southeast Mexico has climbed to 12, including a minor, local authorities said on Tuesday.
The accident took place at 10 a.m. local time (1600GMT) as the bus was traveling along Mexico's Caribbean coast, near the resort of Mahahual, in the state of Quintana Roo.
There were a total of 31 people on board the bus, most of them coming ashore from Royal Caribbean cruise ships.
About 18 passengers were injured in the accident and are receiving treatment at local hospitals.
The victims are from a variety of countries, including the United States, Sweden and Brazil, and Mexican officials said they had contacted their consulates.
Royal Caribbean said via Twitter that 27 of the bus passengers were from its cruise ships Celebrity Equinox and Serenade of the Seas, both of which were docked in Mahahual.
Local media reported that the bus crashed onto its side after one of its tyres blew out, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
December is one of Mexico's busiest tourism months, when millions of travelers come to resorts and Mayan archaeological sites along its Caribbean coastline. Enditem