Algeria civil defence recovers body of boy from well

A 10-year-old boy, Ayoub, has been recovered from a well in Algeria's western province of el-Bayadh, marking the end of a four-day rescue operation that garnered national attention. The country's civil protection agency announced the recovery on Facebook, confirming that rescue teams had reached Ayoub, who had unfortunately passed away. The rescue effort drew significant resources from local authorities, as well as other agencies mobilizing all available means.

The tragic incident occurred on Wednesday when Ayoub fell into a dry well while walking home in the village of Errokn, located in the municipality of Ghassoul. He had stepped on a wooden board covering the well opening, which collapsed, causing him to plummet into the 80-meter-deep shaft with a 40cm diameter. Rescue teams were unable to descend directly into the well, so they constructed a parallel shaft using machinery and technical expertise to access the boy through a horizontal passage.

The challenging conditions, including loose soil and hard rock layers, further complicated the rescue efforts.

In response to the incident, authorities in el-Bayadh formed a crisis response unit under the provincial governor, Noureddine Belarbi, which included representatives from civil protection, security, and military personnel. As the rescue operation entered its decisive phase on the fourth day, large crowds of residents gathered near the site to support the family and follow the progress.

Additional civil protection units were deployed as the rescue operation progressed. Ayoub's death has reignited discussions in Algeria about the safety of unsecured wells in rural areas.