14 Dead, 29 Injured in Cuenca-Molleturo Bus Crash — What We Know So Far

What Happened

A cooperativa San Luis inter-city bus running the Cuenca-Guayaquil route went off the road and caught fire on the Cuenca-Molleturo highway on Wednesday afternoon, April 15, killing at least 14 people and injuring 29 others — some critically (source).

It's the worst crash this corridor has seen in years — and it happened on the road most Cuenca expats use to get to the coast.

The Details

Per El Mercurio:

• Time: "La tarde de ayer" — Wednesday afternoon
• Location: "en el kilómetro 57" of "la vía Cuenca-Molleturo"
• Operator: "un bus de la cooperativa San Luis que cubría la ruta Cuenca-Guayaquil"
• Passengers: "transportaba a 42 pasajeros"
• Confirmed dead: "la muerte de al menos 14 personas"
• Injured: "29 heridos, algunos de ellos en estado grave"

How It Unfolded

According to the article, "el vehículo pesado se había salido de la vía para después volcarse sobre el río El Chorro" — the bus left the road and rolled down into the El Chorro river. Then: "por situaciones que todavía están en investigación, el bus se incendió" — the bus caught fire under circumstances still being investigated.

Captain Sixto Heras of the Cuenca Fire Department described what first responders found:

"Se envolvió en fuego el bus y hay víctimas que estaban afuera del vehículo, en el río, y las otras que estaban en el interior."

In plain English: the bus was already engulfed in flames when rescuers arrived. Some victims had been thrown clear into the river; others were trapped inside.

The Response

Seven ambulances, a pickup from the Azuay provincial government, and private vehicles all ferried injured passengers to Cuenca hospitals — per the article, "siete ambulancias, una camioneta del Gobierno Provincial del Azuay y vehículos privados." The Cuerpo de Bomberos de Cuenca, ECU911, the Ministerio de Salud Pública, and IESS all responded.

What This Means for You

The Cuenca-Molleturo-El Empalme highway is the road most Cuenca expats take when they head to Guayaquil, the coast, or the airport. It's a demanding drive in the best conditions and unforgiving when anything goes wrong — rain, fog, mechanical issues, fatigue.

A few practical takeaways:

• The investigation is ongoing. The cause of the fire hasn't been established. Don't assume you know what happened from early reporting.
• Inter-city bus quality in Ecuador varies by cooperative. If you take long-distance buses, pay attention to the line and the driver's pace. Some cooperatives have better safety records than others.
• Expect temporary closures or slowdowns on the corridor as investigation and recovery continue. If you're heading to the coast this weekend, pad your timing.
• The longer southern route through Girón and Santa Isabel is an option if Molleturo is restricted. It adds hours but it's there.

Our condolences to the families of everyone lost. We'll update as more information comes out.

Source: El Mercurio