At least 25 dead after bus plunges into steep ravine on Cape Verde island

PRAIA, Cape Verde - The government of Cape Verde declared two days of mourning following a tragic bus crash that claimed the lives of 25 individuals, predominantly children and teenagers. The incident occurred on Saturday night when the bus veered off the road and plunged into a deep ravine, after taking a group of pupils on an excursion to a village situated within a volcanic crater on the island of Fogo.

Among the deceased was the bus driver, who had organized the excursion annually as a gift for the students he transported to school during the academic year. Prime Minister Francisco Carvalho ordered the two-day mourning period and pledged additional measures to prevent future accidents. President Jose Maria Neves also announced plans for an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

Rescue efforts persisted into the early hours of Sunday, with emergency personnel working tirelessly to extricate victims trapped in the wreckage of the bus. Seven victims were buried on Sunday, while the remaining bodies and injured individuals were set to be interred later in the day. At the regional hospital in Fogo, 12 people were still receiving medical treatment, with two of them in critical condition.

The island nation's leaders, in solidarity with the grieving families, urged the public to join a Mass held at a local church on the island of Fogo, where 18 coffins were displayed. Despite the rarity of such accidents in Cape Verde, where roads are generally well-maintained, authorities are determined to ensure the safety of the community and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.