How did 6 people die in a bus and truck crash inside Tunnel 6 on the Cali–Buenaventura road?
Quick answer: An intermunicipal bus and a car-carrier truck collided inside the Túnel de Los Naranjos, known as Tunnel 6, on the road linking the port of Buenaventura with Cali on the morning of Monday 9 November 2026, killing at least six people, including the bus driver. Multiple passengers were injured and taken to nearby care centres, and traffic on the corridor was suspended. Emergency number in Colombia: 123.
Key facts
- What: Head-on collision between an intermunicipal bus and a car-carrier truck
- Where: Túnel de Los Naranjos (Tunnel 6), km 55, El Naranjo sector, on the Cali–Buenaventura road, Valle del Cauca, Colombia
- When: Morning of Monday 9 November 2026, reported 12:54 EST
- Killed: At least 6, including the bus driver — early reports first said four, and the figure later rose to six
- Injured: Multiple passengers, taken to nearby care centres; the exact number was not confirmed
- Vehicles: A buseta of the Expreso Palmira or Metro company, and a camión tipo niñera (car-carrier truck)
- Source: Infobae, 9 November 2026
- Emergency number: 123
- Status: developing — figures may change
What happened
The buseta and the car-carrier truck collided in the morning of Monday 9 November 2026 inside the Túnel de Los Naranjos, known as Tunnel 6, at kilometre 55 in the El Naranjo sector, on the road that links the port of Buenaventura with the city of Cali in the department of Valle del Cauca, in south-western Colombia.
The first images from the scene showed the front and side of the buseta damaged, while the truck used to transport cars was also damaged. A motorcycle was also visible at the scene. Rescue bodies and officers from the Seccional de Tránsito y Transporte of the National Police attended to assist the injured and carry out the technical inspection.
According to the Buenaventura transport terminal, the microbus had left with six people on board, although the authorities are investigating whether other people boarded the vehicle during the journey before it entered the tunnel.
Possible cause
The initial hypothesis, as reported by Noticias RCN, is that the car-carrier truck collided head-on with the public-service vehicle. Testimony from drivers and transporters passing through the area, collected by Pulzo, suggested the crash may have started with a presumed imprudent overtaking manoeuvre inside the tunnel. That version is unconfirmed and is part of what the road authorities are investigating.
Road closed
The Unión Vial Camino del Pacífico, the concession that manages the road, confirmed that traffic remains suspended on this stretch of the Pacific corridor while the emergency is attended to. Travellers can check the state of the road on the lines 311 441 5479 and #180, and are advised to check official reports before travelling.
Where it happened
The crash happened inside Tunnel 6, in the El Naranjo sector at kilometre 55 of the Cali–Buenaventura road, the main corridor to Colombia's Pacific port. The road carries heavy freight traffic between the port and Cali, and a closure there disrupts travel across the region.
The Cali–Buenaventura road is in Colombia. Colombia as a whole records an estimated 7,100 road deaths a year (WHO rate 13.5 per 100,000). In an emergency in Colombia dial 123; from most GSM mobile phones 123 also connects to local services. See the Colombia live accident page for everything reported there in the last 24 hours.
Road safety in Colombia: the numbers
Colombia has a WHO-estimated 13.5 road deaths per 100,000 people — below the global average of about 15, ranking #69 of 195 countries by death rate. Across its population that works out to roughly 7,100 estimated deaths every year. Over the last two decades the rate has fallen by about 15% — see the full trend chart on the Colombia tracking page. Driving rules for visitors — speed limits, alcohol limit, which side of the road — are on the Colombia driving laws page.
If you drive on routes like this
- Slow down in unfamiliar conditions: every 1% of extra speed raises fatal-crash risk about 4%
- Never assume the other vehicle sees you at night or in rain — drive as if it doesn't
- On two-lane roads, treat every overtake as the highest-risk moment of the trip
- Wear the seatbelt in every seat; rear belts save lives in head-on impacts
- Know the local emergency number before you travel — our emergency numbers directory covers every country
What happens next
Police normally publish a confirmed casualty count within 24 to 48 hours once the injured are counted and victims identified. A crash investigation follows: vehicle condition, speed, driver hours and road condition. Where a commercial vehicle is involved, the operator's licence and maintenance records are examined, and families of victims are usually entitled to compensation under the country's motor insurance or accident-compensation rules. We update the Colombia live page as new reports surface; the original outlet linked below will carry the confirmed figures first.
Frequently asked questions
How many people died in the Cali–Buenaventura crash?
At least six people died, according to Infobae on 9 November 2026. Early reports first put the toll at four, and it later rose to six. Among those who died was the driver of the bus.
Where did the crash happen?
Inside the Túnel de Los Naranjos, known as Tunnel 6, at kilometre 55 in the El Naranjo sector, on the road linking the port of Buenaventura with Cali, in Valle del Cauca, Colombia.
How many people were injured?
Multiple passengers were injured and taken to nearby care centres, but the exact number of injured people was not confirmed in the initial reports.
Is the Cali–Buenaventura road open?
No. The Unión Vial Camino del Pacífico suspended traffic on the stretch while the emergency was attended to. Travellers can check the state of the road on 311 441 5479 and #180.
What is the emergency number in Colombia?
The emergency number in Colombia is 123.
In this story
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