Bus Plunges off Bridge in Guatemala City, Killing at Least 53

At least 53 people were killed on Monday when a bus crossing a bridge in Guatemala City collided with several other vehicles and then plunged into a ravine, according to government officials.

The bus was lodged in a hard-to-reach area and submerged in a river of sewage. Luggage and personal belongings could be seen scattered across the banks of the water.

The number of dead was expected to rise from the crash, officials said.

The public prosecutor’s office, which released the death toll in a statement, said it was investigating the crash, which occurred at about 4:30 a.m.

The driver of the public bus may have lost control of the vehicle because of a mechanical failure, said Carlos Hernández, a spokesman for Guatemala City’s fire department. The bus then collided with two other vehicles.

Mr. Hernández cautioned, however, that the investigation into the accident was still underway. Local media outlets published security-camera footage of the bus, which appeared to be going at a high rate of speed right before the collision.

News of the crash shook the capital and set off a frantic search for information across many households.