Forty die as Peru bus falls 300m

A bus has plunged into a deep ravine in a remote mountain area of Peru, killing at least 40 people and injuring 16.

The bus, heading to the northern town of Tayabamba, crashed near the village of Pampa, 390km (240 miles) north of the Peruvian capital, Lima.

Peruvian television reported that the bus fell almost 300m (nearly 1000ft). Police said they were investigating.

Bus crashes are common in Peru, where drivers frequently speed and pass other vehicles on blind mountain curves.

Roads in remote areas of Peru can deteriorate markedly during the rainy season, making fatal crashes a frequent occurrence.

The bus, carrying an estimated 60 passengers, was owned by the Andia transportations company.

Last month another bus fell off a cliff in the same province, killing 23 people and injuring 16.

In that incident, the driver put the vehicle in reverse on a narrow, rutted road to try and move his bus past a sharp curve.