At least 12 people died and 18 others went missing in Guatemala on Sunday when their bus overturned while trying to cross a swelling river after torrential rains, said reports.
All of the drowned were sympathizers of Guatemala's ruling party, the National Union for Hope (UNE). They were returning from a campaign of Gonzalo Cordeno, a UNE candidate for the Jutiapa mayor, said UNE spokesman Jose Carlos Marroquin.
The van was trying to cross the Las Pilas River, near the city of Jutiapa, 180 km from capital Guatemala City, said Marroquin. Strong rains raised its tide, which dragged the van several meters before turning it completely over, he said.
The death toll may rise as the bus carried more than 30 people, he added.
The accident happened on the eve of the Guatemalan general election slated for next Sunday. It will elect president, vice president and a total of 332 municipal leaders.
Source: Xinhua
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