By Benson Daniel
At least 25 people have died in a devastating bus crash on Cape Verde’s Fogo Island, with most of the victims reported to be children and teenagers.
The accident occurred on Saturday along the Campanas de Cima route, a mountainous section of the island, when the passenger bus veered off the road and plunged into a deep ravine.
The bus was carrying 32 people at the time of the crash. It was returning to São Filipe after an excursion to Chã das Caldeiras, a settlement located within the crater area of Pico do Fogo, one of Cape Verde’s most prominent volcanic landmarks.
Several people survived the crash but sustained injuries, with some reported to be in serious condition. Emergency responders faced difficult conditions at the scene because of the steep and rugged terrain where the vehicle came to rest.
The victims were largely young people from communities on Fogo Island. Local reports said the driver, who also died in the crash, had organised the excursion as an annual outing for pupils he transported to school during the academic year.
Authorities stressed that the trip was not an official school excursion, although many of the passengers were students.
The scale of the tragedy has shocked communities across the island and prompted an immediate response from the Cape Verdean government. President José Maria Pereira Neves described the incident as a great catastrophe and expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.
The government subsequently declared two days of national mourning as the country began to grieve for the victims.
Medical teams and emergency personnel were deployed to the crash site and nearby health facilities to assist the injured and recover the bodies. The difficult terrain complicated rescue efforts, with emergency workers having to operate in a steep ravine that was not easily accessible by road.
The identities and ages of all the victims were still being established as authorities worked with families and local officials.
The cause of the accident had not been officially determined as of Sunday, with investigators expected to examine the vehicle, the road conditions and the circumstances surrounding the crash.
The tragedy has drawn particular concern because of the large number of young lives lost in a single incident. Fogo Island, home to one of Cape Verde’s major tourist attractions, attracts visitors to the volcanic landscape around Pico do Fogo.
Residents gathered to mourn the victims as the authorities continued the recovery operation and provided assistance to affected families.
Officials have urged the public to remain calm while investigations continue and have promised further information as details surrounding the crash become clearer.
The disaster is one of the deadliest road accidents reported in Cape Verde in recent years, leaving families and communities across Fogo Island mourning the loss of children and young people whose lives were cut short during what was intended to be a recreational outing.
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