12 police officers killed in Peru bus accident

By Maria Paz Salas

SANTIAGO, Chile

At least 12 police officers were killed and 13 others injured Tuesday when a bus fell off a mountain cliff in Peru, according to authorities.

At least five officers are missing following the crash about 970 kilometers (600 miles) southeast of Lima.

"Today's a day of mourning because police officers have died unnecessarily in a highway in the Andes,” President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski said during a ceremony for graduating police officers, according to the El Comercio newspaper.

Television images of the crash showed the bus completely destroyed at the edge of a river. Police and firefighters are working to rescue possible survivors, authorities said.

Police General Director Vicente Romero told a news conference 32 police were being transported to Antabamba to provide security at a meeting between local residents and federal officials.

Deadly accidents are common in Lima’s interior, caused in part by poorly maintained vehicles in bad conditions and the bad state of roads, especially in rough terrain.

The World Health Organization reports an average of 15.9 traffic fatalities per 100,000 residents in Peru.