At least 21 dead in major highway collision in Mexico’s Puebla state

A devastating traffic accident in Mexico’s Puebla state has left at least 21 people dead, with several others injured.

The collision, which occurred on the morning of May 15, involved multiple vehicles and resulted in a deadly explosion.

Puebla’s Interior Minister Samuel Aguilar Pala confirmed the incident in a statement posted on the social platform X (formerly Twitter), Caliber.Az reports.

The accident took place at the 31st kilometre of the Cuacnopalan–Oaxaca highway. Preliminary reports indicate that three vehicles were involved: a truck, a fuel tanker, and a passenger bus.

“Eighteen people were killed at the scene, and three more died after being taken to the hospital,” Aguilar Pala said. He also noted that several individuals sustained injuries of varying degrees and are currently receiving medical assistance.

The accident caused the tanker to explode after the impact. The explosion further intensified the tragedy and led to the temporary closure of that section of the highway, as emergency services responded to the scene.

Authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims, and an investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the crash. The government has deployed additional personnel to assist with the emergency response and provide aid to the injured.

By Tamilla Hasanova