At least 25 people, many of them children and teenagers, have been killed after a passenger bus plunged into a ravine on Cape Verde’s Fogo Island.
The crash happened on Saturday along the Campanas de Cima route, a mountainous area on the island. The bus was reportedly carrying 32 people and was returning to São Filipe after an excursion to Chã das Caldeiras, located inside the crater of the Pico do Fogo volcano.
The bus reportedly veered off the road before plunging into a deep ravine. The difficult and rocky terrain hampered rescue operations, with emergency personnel working through the night to reach those trapped in the wreckage.
Several people were injured, some seriously, while the bus driver was also among those killed.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves across Cape Verde, with President José Maria Pereira Neves describing the incident as a major catastrophe and expressing condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the crash, while local communities mourn the victims of the devastating accident.
