Tragic Accident in Northern Mexico Claims 12 Lives, Sparks Wildfire

At least 12 people lost their lives and four others were injured on Sunday after a van plunged into a ravine and caught fire in northern Mexico, igniting a blaze in the surrounding forest.

The accident occurred in Nuevo Leon, a northern state bordering the U.S., near Monterrey, the state capital.

In a brief video message, Santiago’s mayor, David de la Peña, stated that the crash appeared to have been caused by a mechanical failure in the vehicle. The van, carrying approximately 16 people, fell nearly 120 meters (394 feet) into the ravine.

At the time of the report, it was unclear whether the 16 people included the driver or where the passengers were from. Some victims died at the scene, while others succumbed to their injuries at the hospital.

Images posted by authorities showed thick smoke rising from the dry forest, with a helicopter deployed to control the fast-spreading flames.

This tragedy jacks up the number of deadly road accidents in Mexico. Earlier this month, 11 people lost their lives in a bus rollover in the south, while last month, 41 people lost their lives in a bus-truck collision. Late last year, 19 fatalities were recorded in another bus crash in central Mexico.