Bus bomb blast kills 6 in central Guatemala

Bus bomb blast kills 6 in central Guatemala

2011-01-04 23:12:23 GMT+7 (ICT)

GUATEMALA CITY (BNO NEWS) -- At least six people on Tuesday were killed after a bus bomb exploded in San Juan Sacatepequez city in central Guatemala, local media reported.

Authorities informed that on Tuesday morning an unidentified woman boarded the bus in Ciudad Quetzal neighborhood and left a backpack before leaving the bus from the Rutas Quetzal company.

The bus exploded in the intersection of 37 Avenue and San Juan street after the woman detonated the explosives using a mobile phone. In addition, fifteen passengers were injured.

Paramedics and rescue teams were rushed to the scene. The wounded were transported to the Roosevelt Hospital, where the death toll was set at six. The fifteen individuals injured are being treated of first and third degree burns.

Rigoberto García Orozco, 69, and Dora Rodas Franco, 54, were killed alter sustaining burns in 80 percent of their bodies. A 35-year-old mother, Alicia Zacarias, was also killed along her children, Nury Paola and Gerson Daniel, aged 3 and 11 years respectively.

Another victim has not being identified as his body was left completely charred. Jorge, 13, another son of Zacarias was injured and transported to the hospital. The Zacarias family had just had lunch with the dad, Jorge Cac Gutiérrez, a taxi driver who left them at the bus stop.

Authorities have not informed the cause of the attack. It is believed that it is related to an unpaid bribery to a local gang but an investigation was launched to found the responsible individuals.

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