Mexico city: At least 21 people were killed in a devastating multi-vehicle crash involving a trailer lorry and a bus in central Mexico on Wednesday, officials confirmed.

The fatal collision took place on a highway linking the state of Puebla with the southern state of Oaxaca. Eighteen people died at the scene, while three more succumbed to their injuries in hospital, Samuel Aguilar, a spokesperson for the Puebla state government, told reporters.

Authorities have not yet released a full count of those injured, but several people are being treated at local hospitals.

Images from the scene, widely circulated by Mexican media, showed charred wreckage and thick black smoke billowing into the air, with debris scattered across the roadway.

Mexico has seen a surge in deadly road accidents in recent years, often attributed to poorly maintained vehicles, reckless driving, and driver fatigue. Freight trucks have been involved in many of these tragic incidents, prompting growing public demands for improved safety regulations on the country’s busy highways.