La Paz - At least 47 people died Tuesday when a truck fell down a 180-metre ravine near the southern Bolivian city of Potosi, 480 kilometres south of La Paz, Bolivian road police said.

At least seven people were injured, Erbol radio network reported, citing witnesses, when the truck tumbled from the winding road that is flanked by 180-250-metre deep ravines near the town of Yocalla, 51 kilometres north-east of Bolivia's mining city Potosi.

For many extremely poor Bolivians, trucks are the only affordable transport. There were no immediate reports of the cause of the accident. (dpa)