At least 53 dead after bus plunges off bridge in Guatemala

A bus crash in Guatemala, has killed at least 53 people, including children, and left several others injured.

Early on Monday local time, a bus traveling into the capital, Guatemala City, plunged off a highway bridge approximately 20 meters into a polluted river.

Firefighters rescued around 20 passengers who were taken to local hospitals.

The bus, reportedly over 30 years old, operated with a valid license.

Authorities have begun an investigation to determine the cause of the accident and assess whether the vehicle was overloaded.

In response to the crash, President Bernardo Arevalo declared a period of national mourning and expressed his condolences to the families affected.