Bus crash kills 25 in Cabo Verde

A bus crash on Cabo Verde’s Fogo Island on Saturday killed at least 25 people, most of them children and teenagers, public radio network RCV reported.

The bus, carrying 32 passengers, veered off the road and plunged into a deep ravine on the way back to São Filipe after an excursion to Cha das Caldeiras, a village inside the Pico do Fogo volcanic crater, according to local authorities.

Several others were injured, some seriously, the head of civil protection for São Filipe city, Jose Canuto, told reporters. Emergency crews worked through the night to rescue victims trapped in the wreckage, which came to a halt in a rocky valley that is hard to reach. The dead include the bus driver, who organised the excursion to the site every year as a present for the pupils he drove to school during term time.

Seven of the victims were buried early on Sunday. The rest were set to be buried later in the day, according to RCV.

Such incidents are rare in the West African archipelago, where roads are generally in good condition. The terrain around the crater is rugged, and roads are narrow, according to locals.

Fogo Island is home to one of Cabo Verde’s most active volcanoes. Its last major eruption was in 2014-2015. The Cha das Caldeiras area is a popular tourist destination, known for its vineyards and scenic views.

President Ulisses Correia e Silva expressed condolences to the families of the victims on social media.

SOURCE: AFP