The horrific accident took place on the Panamericana Sur highway in the Ocona region of Peru – just weeks after more than 50 died in similar incident near Pasamayo.
The crash occurred on a curve of a highway bordered by a huge, mountainous slope.
Shock photos show the devastated bus lying at the bottom of a rocky gorge far below the highway.
And in horrifying scenes, some of the bodies of victims were swept away in a fast-flowing river at the bottom of the cliff.
Some emergency responders and witnesses swam into the river to rescue the bodies and bring them back to shore.
Officials have confirmed at least 44 people have been confirmed dead but warned the death toll was likely to rise.
President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski wrote on Twitter:“My condolences to the relatives of the victims of the transit accident in Arequipa.
“We have taken all steps to provide immediate rescue support and transfer victims to the closest health centers so they can be attended immediately.”
The bus was carrying some 45 passengers, according to operator Rey Latino, but police said the figure was likely higher because additional passengers boarded along the route and did not appear in the initial register.
This is a breaking story, more to follow…