International Desk

At least 25 people, most of them children and teenagers, have been killed after a bus plunged into a deep ravine in the West African island nation of Cape Verde. Several others were injured, some of them critically.

The accident occurred late Saturday night on the island of Fogo. Jose Canuto, head of Fogo Island’s Civil Protection Department, confirmed the incident to reporters.

He said the bus was carrying 32 passengers and was transporting school students on an educational trip. After visiting the village of Cha das Caldeiras, near the dormant crater of the Pico do Fogo volcano, the bus was returning to the city of Sao Filipe when the driver lost control. The vehicle veered off the road and plunged into a deep gorge.

The bus driver was also killed in the accident. Every year, he reportedly took several school students on educational trips to different parts of the country at his own expense as a gift to them. This year’s trip was also organised on his initiative.

Emergency rescue teams worked throughout the night following the accident. They searched for passengers trapped beneath the wreckage of the bus, which had fallen into a remote and rocky ravine.

Seven of the victims were buried early Sunday morning. According to the Red Cross of Cape Verde (RCV), the remaining victims were scheduled to be buried later in the day.

Road accidents of this scale are relatively rare in Cape Verde. The country reportedly has a well-developed road network, while vehicle maintenance standards are generally considered to be good.