FC Cincinnati Academy players survive bus accident in Ecuador

At least 13 people, including five players from FC Cincinnati's youth academy, were killed in a bus accident in Ecuador on Sunday, the team and Ecuadorian officials said.

The bus was carrying 54 passengers, including 43 members of the Orense Sporting Club, when it crashed in the Los Bancos canton of Pichincha province, about 25 miles west of Quito, Ecuador's capital, according to Ecuador's transit agency.

The bus was traveling from the city of Cuenca to Guayaquil when it went off the road and crashed into a ravine, the agency said. The cause of the accident is under investigation.

FC Cincinnati released a statement Sunday night confirming that five of its academy players were among the victims. The team did not release the names of the players, but said they were all between the ages of 14 and 16.

"We are deeply saddened by this tragic news and our hearts go out to the families and friends of those who lost their lives," the team said in a statement.

The Ecuadorian Football Federation (FEF) also released a statement expressing its condolences to the victims' families. The FEF said it is working with the Ecuadorian government to provide support to the victims' families and to investigate the accident.

The accident comes just days before Ecuador is set to host the Copa America, the South American soccer championship. The tournament is scheduled to begin on June 13 in Quito.

The accident is a reminder of the dangers that young soccer players face while traveling to and from games. In 2016, 19 members of the Brazilian youth soccer team Chapecoense were killed in a plane crash in Colombia.

Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the victims of this tragic accident.