Van accident in northern Mexico kills 12, sparks fire

A tragic van accident in northern Mexico has resulted in the deaths of twelve people. Four others were injured in the incident that occurred on Sunday. The van crashed into a ravine and caught fire, leading to a forest blaze in the area. The accident took place in Nuevo Leon, a state near the U.S. border, close to Monterrey. According to David de la Pena, the mayor of Santiago, mechanical failure is suspected to have caused the crash. The van fell nearly 120 meters into the ravine while carrying 16 people. Some victims died at the scene, while others succumbed to their injuries in the hospital. Details about the passengers and the driver have not been released. Images from the scene showed smoke rising from a dry forest, where the fire spread quickly. A helicopter was seen working to control the flames. State officials reported that about two hectares of forest were burned before the fire was managed. This incident is part of a concerning trend, as multiple recent road accidents in Mexico have led to high death tolls. Earlier this month, eleven people died in a bus accident in southern Mexico, and last month, a bus collision resulted in 41 deaths.