Bus Carrying Soccer Fans Plunges Into Ravine in Southern Chile Killing 15

Fifteen people including two children died early Saturday and 21 were injured when a bus skidded off the highway and plunged down a ravine in southern Chile, authorities said.

Among the fatalities were a 2-year-old minor and a nursing baby of 6 months. The injured were taken to several hospitals in the area, Luis Santibañez, acting governor of the Biobio region, said.

The accident occurred around 2:00 a.m. Saturday near the town of Tome, when for unknown causes the vehicle went off the road and crashed down a cliff almost 150 meters (490 feet) high.

The bus was carrying some 30 fans of the O’Higgins FC soccer club, who had been to Talcahuano to see their team’s 2-0 win over Huachipato in Chilean soccer-league play.

“Horrible tragedy in Tome, our most sincere condolences to all our Great Blue Family, strength to the families of the victims,” the O’Higgins club said on its official Twitter account.

Meanwhile Chile’s professional soccer association declared in a communique an official period of mourning for the institution and announced that a minute of silence will be observed in all stadiums this weekend.

Saturday’s and Sunday’s scheduled soccer matches in Chile will therefore not be suspended.

Published in Latino Daily News