Terrible Accident in Peru: A Van Falls Into a Ravine

What Happened?

Imagine a small passenger van (called a "combi" in Peru) driving along a road and suddenly falling into a deep ditch or cliff (an abyss). This sad event happened near a town called San Juan in Peru.

Here is what we know:

• 14 people died and 5 people got hurt because the van fell into the abyss.
• The town of San Juan is more than 800 kilometers north of Lima (the capital city of Peru).
• A man named Ricardo Chilón, who works for the San Juan town government and handles its public image, shared this information with AFP (a news agency).

Who Went to Help?

When the accident happened, helpers rushed to the scene:

• Police teams and firefighters went to the accident site outside San Juan.
• Their job was to bring back the bodies of the people who died.
• Among the people who died were the driver and a little child.

The Rescue Was Hard

A firefighter representative named Edson Román talked to the press and said:

• They still needed to bring out 6 more people who died.
• He said: "The rescue is very complicated for us. The vehicle got stuck between a ravine (a narrow valley or ditch)."
• He was speaking from the accident location.

Important Point: The van was squeezed and stuck in a ravine, which made it very difficult and dangerous for rescuers to pull the victims out.

Where Did the Hurt People Go?

The 5 injured people were taken to the regional hospital in a city called Cajamarca so doctors could treat them.

Details About the Van Trip

Let’s look at what the van was doing:

1. The van was carrying 19 passengers in total.
2. It was traveling from the district of San Juan to a place called "Ciudad de Dios" (City of God).
3. Right now, nobody knows exactly why the accident happened — the causes are being investigated (looked into by authorities).

Why Do Accidents Like This Happen in Peru?

Sadly, road accidents are common in Peru. Why?

• The roads are often in bad condition (broken or poorly maintained).
• There is not enough police checking on drivers.
• Human mistakes happen, mostly because people drive too fast.

According to official numbers:

• Last year, more than 3,000 people died on Peru’s roads.

Summary

A van fell into a ravine near San Juan, Peru. Fourteen people died (including the driver and a child), and five were injured and taken to a hospital. Firefighters and police are still recovering bodies because the van is stuck. The van had 19 passengers and was going to Ciudad de Dios. The cause is unknown and under investigation. Peru has many road accidents due to bad roads, weak police control, and speeding, with over 3,000 deaths last year.

FAQ

1. What is a "combi"?
A combi is a small van used to carry passengers, like a shared taxi or mini-bus.

2. Who told the news about the accident?
Ricardo Chilón from the San Juan town government and firefighter Edson Román spoke to the news agency AFP and the press.

3. Are all the bodies recovered?
No. At the time of reporting, 14 deaths were confirmed but 6 of those bodies were still stuck in the ravine waiting to be recovered.

4. Why is the rescue difficult?
Because the van is wedged (tightly stuck) inside a ravine, making it hard for rescuers to reach and remove it safely.

5. How many people were in the van?
The van was carrying 19 passengers when it crashed.

© 2026 AFP