The bus, carrying nearly 60 people, crashed into a bridge before tipping into a stream at the bottom of the ravine about 41 kilometers (25 miles) from Tegucigalpa, according to police officials.

"There are now 12 dead - 10 died at the scene and another two at the hospital in Tegucigalpa," said fire brigade Lieutenant Cristian Sevilla.

The seriously injured had been taken to the hospital by ambulance and helicopter, officials said.

Honduran President Xiomara Castro said on social media X that instructions had been given to the relevant agencies to deal with the emergency.

(Reporting by Gustavo Palencia; Editing by Sarah Morland and Sandra Maler)