Harrowing moment bus is swept away by mud as terrified passengers cling to roof

Harrowing moment bus is swept away by mud as terrified passengers cling to roof The bus was carrying mainly university students and workers when it was caught in the mudslide. Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Bookmark Add us as preferred source Comments By Catherine Mackinlay , News Reporter 22:06, Fri, Oct 9, 2026 Updated: 22:06, Fri, Oct 9, 2026 The moment a bus is swept away at breakneck speed by a torrent of murky water (Image: Jam Press) A bus was filmed being swept away by a raging torrent of mud as terrified passengers clung to its roof during devastating floods in Chile . Harrowing footage shows the vehicle being carried away at breakneck speed through the San Carlos de Apoquindo area of Las Condes, in the Santiago Metropolitan Region. Three people were reportedly clinging to the roof as the bus was dragged through the mud, while another six passengers, mainly university students and workers, were inside. According to Chilean newspaper Las Últimas Noticias (LUN), footage recorded by passengers shows mud seeping beneath the doors and reaching the seats as rocks struck the bus and desperate shouts could be heard from inside. Sofía Opazo, a University of the Andes student who was on board, said there was barely any warning before the torrent struck. She told Chilean broadcaster T13: "We didn't even get off the bus because we were hit by a sudden downpour, along with a tree and everything. The bus started going backwards, backwards, backwards." Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Passengers were eventually forced to push open a hatch at the top of the bus and climb onto its roof to escape the rising water. Another student, Joaquín Ugarte, described how high the mud had risen inside, saying: "I was covered in mud up to my hips." A third passenger described the terrifying scenes as the vehicle continued to be swept along, saying: "We were on top of the bus, screaming and asking for help as we were being dragged along. Everyone was crying and screaming because it was flooding below. Get the latest news from around the world and more I would like to receive emails from the Daily Express featuring our latest products, services, offers, and promotions from across the Reach Plc family . Subscribe Invalid email You agree you are 18 or over. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. You can unsubscribe at any time. More Info . "We came out completely covered in mud; some were hurt and others cut by glass, but fortunately nothing extremely serious." Passenger Joaquín Ugarte said the water and mud carried the bus for around two blocks before it finally came to a halt. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT He added: "Luckily it stopped, the bus came to a halt and I was able to jump through that glass; then I helped receive all the passengers who were still inside." Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Passengers clung to the roof as the bus was carried away by the powerful mudslide (Image: Jam Press) Putin 'stuck in the air' as 'Ukrainian drones' shut major Russian airports Marsala tornado RECAP: Horror moment destructive weather event rocks Sicily The driver was also reported to have been shouting and trying to escape after losing control of the bus as it was swept backwards. Passengers said the vehicle flooded almost to the top, forcing them towards the rear before they escaped through the emergency exit and onto the roof. As it was swept along, the bus reportedly struck trees and utility posts before becoming lodged against two large trees, stopping it just 15 metres from crashing into a nearby strip mall. The mudslide struck San Carlos de Apoquindo on Thursday afternoon (October 8) amid heavy rainfall, sweeping down from the Honda ravine and sending mud, rocks and branches surging through streets. A canal also overflowed, sending a huge torrent of water down a main road. Medical facilities and universities were flooded, while some people became trapped inside buildings as emergency crews launched rescue operations. At least six people were injured, including a one-year-old girl who suffered multiple broken bones, while no deaths have been reported. The bus finally came to rest after becoming lodged against two large trees (Image: JAVIER TORRES/EPA/Shutterstock) More than 1,000 people were forced to flee their homes as flash floods and landslides hit Santiago, with some residents airlifted to safety. High alerts were issued across 10 districts, while Las Condes was placed under an official state of emergency. Nearly six inches of rain had fallen in recent days - almost nine times the amount normally expected in October - with mayor Catalina San Martín saying the region was "totally saturated". Power cuts left almost 12,000 people without electricity, while dozens of homes were damaged or flooded. President José Antonio Kast has since ordered Las Condes to be declared a disaster zone. University of Chile academic Felipe Ochoa said unusually heavy rainfall had saturated the soil on steep slopes, adding: "The scale of what we’re seeing was completely unexpected." Emergency News Flood Chile Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Bookmark Add us as preferred source Comments