The 10 Worst Bus Accidents in the World in 2025 – A Complete List

A complete list of the 10 worst bus accidents in the world in 2025 with dates and fatalities.

The year 2025 saw some of the worst bus accidents in the world, with several major crashes resulting in high death tolls and raising serious concerns about global road safety.

Across many countries, bus accidents continue to rank among the deadliest road transport disasters, particularly on long-distance routes where large numbers of passengers travel in a single vehicle. 

Several catastrophic bus crashes were reported across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, regions where buses remain one of the most important forms of public transportation.

In these areas, intercity and rural bus services often operate under difficult conditions such as mountain roads, high-speed highways, overcrowded vehicles, and aging bus fleets, increasing the risk of severe accidents.

As in previous years, investigations into these major crashes revealed recurring safety issues, including:

• Driver fatigue and long-distance travel
• Overspeeding on highways
• Mechanical failures and poor maintenance
• Dangerous road conditions
  

Despite improvements in vehicle technology and safety regulations, fatal bus accidents remain a major global transport challenge, especially in developing regions where buses are the backbone of daily mobility.

This report presents a detailed and data-driven list of the 10 worst bus accidents in the world in 2025, based on death toll, severity of the crash, and overall impact on road safety discussions worldwide.

List of the 10 Worst Bus Accidents in the World in 2025

Below is a comprehensive table summarizing the deadliest bus accidents in the world in 2025, detailing their locations, death tolls, and key factors:

1. Afghanistan Herat Migration Disaster

Death Toll: 79

Date: August 19, 2025

Type: Multi-vehicle collision and fire

The Incident: The deadliest road tragedy of the decade occurred in Afghanistan’s Guzara District when an overloaded passenger bus carrying deported migrants from Iran collided with a motorcycle and a fuel truck.

The impact triggered a massive explosion, and the resulting inferno consumed the vehicle almost instantly, killing 77 people at the scene.

Two others later succumbed to their injuries. Among the 79 victims were at least 19 children.

Many bodies were charred beyond recognition, making identification nearly impossible without passenger manifests. The crash has highlighted the extreme dangers of the Herat–Islam Qala highway and the risks associated with large-scale, often unregulated, migrant transport operations.

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2. Guatemala Bridge Disaster

Death Toll: 55

Date: February 10, 2025

Type: Bridge plunge

The Incident: A horrific morning commute turned into a national tragedy when a crowded, 30-year-old bus traveling from San Agustín Acasaguastlán plunged 20 meters (66ft) off the Belize Bridge in Guatemala City.

The bus hit two other vehicles before crashing through a metal safety railing and landing upside-down in the polluted Las Vacas River.

The disaster killed 52 people at the scene, and four others died later in the hospital. In response, President Bernardo Arévalo declared three days of national mourning.

The Guatemala bus crash exposed a dangerous lack of safety rules for aging buses and the urgent need for stronger highway barriers in the capital.

3. Saudi Arabia Pilgrim Bus Crash

Death Toll: 45 (42 Indian Nationals)

Date: November 17, 2025

Type: Collision and fire

The Incident: A devastating collision near Madinah claimed the lives of 42 Indian Umrah pilgrims and two Saudi facilitators when their bus, traveling from Mecca, struck a diesel tanker at Mufrihat.

The impact triggered a massive explosion and an immediate fuel-fed inferno that engulfed the vehicle within minutes, leaving the passengers almost no time to evacuate. Entire family units were wiped out; one survivor lost 18 relatives in the blaze.

Only 24-year-old Md Abdul Shoeb miraculously survived by jumping through a window moments before the flames spread.

The intensity of the fire necessitated difficult identification processes at King Fahad Hospital and highlighted the catastrophic risks of fuel-tanker collisions on pilgrimage routes.

4. Mexico Bus Fire (Cancun–Tabasco)

Death Toll: 41

Date: February 8, 2025

Type: Collision and fire

The Incident: A catastrophic early-morning collision in southern Mexico claimed the lives of 41 people after a long-distance bus operated by Tours Acosta struck a trailer truck.

The bus was traveling from Cancun to Tabasco with 48 people on board when the collision occurred near the city of Escárcega. The impact triggered a massive post-collision inferno that completely incinerated the vehicle, leaving only a charred skeletal frame.

Among the dead were 38 passengers, both bus drivers, and the truck driver. Investigations centered on potential speeding and driver fatigue, as the high-traffic corridor is notorious for demanding long-haul schedules that increase the risk of high-impact collisions.

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5. Bolivia Highway Collision (Potosí)

Death Toll: 37

Date: March 1, 2025

Type: Head-on bus collision

The Incident: Bolivia witnessed one of the deadliest bus accidents in the world in 2025 when two buses collided head-on in the western Potosí region, resulting in 37 fatalities, including eight minors.

The accident occurred at 7:00 AM on a narrow rural highway connecting the cities of Uyuni and Colchani. One of the buses, filled with passengers traveling to the Oruro Carnival, reportedly swerved into the oncoming lane at high speed.

The impact was so severe that responders had to cut through twisted steel to reach survivors. Subsequent investigations revealed a shocking lack of professional accountability, as survivors reported seeing one of the drivers consuming alcohol before the trip.

6. Bolivia Yocalla Ravine Disaster

Death Toll: 31

Date: February 17, 2025

Type: Ravine plunge

The Incident: Only weeks before the Potosí collision, a passenger bus en route to Oruro plummeted approximately 800 meters (2,600 feet) into a massive ravine in the southwestern district of Yocalla.

The vehicle fell into the abyss after the driver reportedly lost control on a treacherous mountain pass characterized by sharp bends.

While 31 lives were lost, 14 survivors were rescued from the wreckage and transported to hospitals in Potosí.

Authorities pointed to excessive speed on the winding curves as the primary cause, highlighting a systemic failure in road safety for this high-altitude corridor.

7. Sri Lanka Kotmale Cliff Crash

Death Toll: 21

Date: May 11, 2025

Type: Cliff plunge

The Incident: A state-owned bus operated by the Sri Lanka Transport Board careened off a precipice near the town of Kotmale in central Sri Lanka.

The vehicle, carrying Buddhist pilgrims from Kataragama to Kurunegala, skidded off the Nuwara Eliya–Gampola main road and plunged roughly 100 meters into a tea plantation.

The impact sheared off the roof and side panels of the bus. Investigations revealed the bus was dangerously overcrowded, carrying nearly 80 passengers significantly over its legal capacity.

While mechanical defects were suspected, authorities concluded that driver fatigue after a long night’s journey was the most likely cause of the Kotmale bus accident in Sri Lanka.

8. Thailand Tour Bus Crash

Death Toll: 18

Date: February 26, 2025

Type: Overturn

The Incident: A double-decker tour bus carrying 49 local government officials on a study trip rolled upside down into a ditch in Prachin Buri province.

The vehicle was part of a convoy when its brakes reportedly failed while descending a steep mountain pass. 17 people died at the scene, and one more succumbed at the hospital.

The disaster highlighted the inherent stability risks of high-profile double-decker buses on downhill slopes and reignited global concerns over Thailand’s road safety record and the lack of emergency runaway ramps on mountain roads.

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9. Brazil Tourist Bus Crash

Death Toll: 17

Date: October 18, 2025

Type: Overturn

The Incident: A tragic long-distance bus accident in northeastern Brazil claimed the lives of 17 passengers in the city of Saloá, Pernambuco, marking it as one of the worst bus accidents in the world in 2025.

The vehicle veered into the opposite lane on the BR-423 highway and struck roadside rocks before the driver attempted a sharp overcorrection.

This maneuver caused the bus to collide with a sand embankment and flip onto its side. While the driver survived and tested negative for alcohol, investigators focused on the reported brake failure and the fact that many victims were ejected from the vehicle because they were not wearing seatbelts.

10. Malaysia Gerik Student Bus Crash

Death Toll: 15

Date: June 9, 2025

Type: Highway collision/overturn

The Incident: A tragic early-morning collision on Malaysia’s East-West Highway claimed the lives of 15 university students from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI).

The Gerik bus accident in Malaysia occurred at 1:10 AM near Tasik Banding when a privately chartered bus collided with a Perodua Alza MPV before overturning on a winding, downhill section of the road. 13 students died at the scene, while two more succumbed at the hospital.

Authorities noted that the students were returning to campus after the Aidiladha break and identified a failed overtaking maneuver in a dark, unlit area as the primary cause.

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Reforms and Lessons for Improved Bus Safety

Following the worst bus accidents in the world in 2025, governments and transport safety agencies worldwide have accelerated the adoption of stricter regulations and advanced technologies to enhance passenger safety and prevent similar catastrophic incidents.

Mandatory AI Driver Monitoring

In-cab AI cameras track eye movement and head positioning to detect fatigue or distraction and trigger immediate alarms to prevent sleep-related crashes.

Fire-Safe “Bus Body Code” Enforcement

Stricter manufacturing standards now require automated fire suppression systems and fire-retardant materials to ensure rapid evacuation during a collision.

Advanced Emergency Braking (AEB)

Onboard radar systems automatically engage the brakes if an obstacle is detected and the driver fails to react, preventing high-speed head-on collisions.

Inclusive Infrastructure and Low-Floor Mandates

Lowering the vehicle’s floor height improves passenger access and stabilizes the bus by lowering its center of gravity to prevent overturns on sharp curves.

Digital “Lock-Out” Logbooks

Electronic logging devices are hard-wired to the engine to disable the ignition if a driver has not completed their legally mandated rest period.

Bridge and Ravine “High-Containment” Barriers

Reinforced highway barriers are specifically engineered to absorb the impact of a 15-ton bus and redirect it back onto the road to prevent fatal plunges.