BOGOTA, Colombia — At least 13 people were killed and 30 others injured when a bus plunged into a ravine on Friday morning on the Pan-American Highway in southwestern Colombia, authorities reported.

The accident occurred around 7 a.m. local time on a mountainous road in the Nariño Department, near the Ecuadorian border, as the bus fell into a 150-meter (492-foot) ravine.

According to the fire department, 11 people died at the scene, while two others succumbed to their injuries later.

Twenty-nine victims, including the bus driver, suffered serious injuries and are being treated at eight hospitals.

The bus was transporting tourists visiting the Sanctuary of Las Lajas, a popular pilgrimage site located 2,900 meters (1.8 miles) above sea level within the Guáitara River canyon, just seven kilometers (4.3 miles) from the Ecuadorian border.

Nariño Governor Luis Alfonso Escobar attributed the crash to the driver's decision to take an alternate route to avoid paying toll fees.

"We regret this tragic event at the start of 2025, involving visitors traveling from Cali to the Sanctuary of Las Lajas via an alternate route," Escobar said. "Many drivers choose alternate routes to evade toll payments."

Authorities suspect mechanical failure and excessive speed as potential causes of the crash, though the investigation is ongoing.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro expressed his condolences, noting the police-led emergency response. "We have a road disaster in Nariño. A private tourist bus veered off the road, resulting in 11 fatalities so far. Regrettable," he wrote earlier on X. — Agencies