Death toll of bus accident in Peru rises to 15

The death toll of a bus accident near Titicaca Lake, south of Peru, rose to 15, the police said on Monday.

The accident occurred on Monday morning when a bus went off the road and felt into Titicaca Lake.

"With aid from the people and some boats we have been able to recover 15 corpses, including a 7-month-old baby," chief of Moho police station, lieutenant of the National Police of Peru (PNP) Zozimo Contreras said.

Four injured passengers were taken to the hospitals in the region, and they are in grave conditions, Contreras added.

The PNP expects to find more victims trapped in the bus, which was totally submerged in the lake, however the rescue has been difficult due to the geographic conditions.

It is estimated that there were about 30 passengers aboard the bus when the accident occurred, most of whom are businessmen who were traveling from Moho province to Juliaca.

When the bus was crossing Conima district it went off the road and felt into Titicaca Lake, after a jump into a cliff of 100 meters depth.

The Titicaca is located 3,000 meters altitude and it is the biggest navigable lake in the world, and one of the main tourist attraction of Peru and Bolivia.

Source:Xinhua