At least 25 people have died after a school bus plunged into a ravine on the island of Fogo in Cape Verde.
The accident occurred at approximately 9 p.m. local time on Saturday, Sept. 5, when a school bus carrying mostly teenagers crashed and fell about 100 feet into a ravine along the Campanas de Cima route on Fogo Island, according to regional outlets Expresso das Ilhas, A Nação and Demócrata.
The students were reportedly returning from a field trip to Chã das Caldeiras that had been organized by the bus driver when the crash occurred. The exact cause of the accident remains unknown.
São Filipe Mayor Nuías Silva confirmed Saturday that 25 people, including the bus driver, were killed in the crash. According to A Nação, Demócrata and the Associated Press, seven victims were buried immediately because of the condition of their bodies.
Rescue and Recovery Efforts Underway
Rescue and recovery operations remain underway after several passengers were thrown from the bus during the crash, while others were trapped inside the vehicle, Expresso das Ilhas reported. The difficult, rocky terrain of the ravine has complicated efforts to locate and recover the victims.
According to The U.K. Sun, the bus was carrying schoolchildren from Curral Grande and Ponta Verde. Approximately 19 victims were taken to São Francisco de Assis Regional Hospital, with four reportedly in serious condition.
São Filipe’s Municipal Council expressed its condolences in a translated statement shared on Facebook, saying, “In light of this painful tragedy, which resulted in the loss of human lives and left several people injured, the Municipality of São Filipe wishes, first and foremost, to express its deepest solidarity with the families of the victims, their colleagues, teachers, the educational communities, and the entire population deeply shaken by this event…”
The council also said it had deployed a team to the scene in coordination with the Health Department, National Police, Municipal Volunteer Fire Department (MVFD) and other relevant authorities to provide immediate assistance to the victims and their families.
Following the tragedy, the council declared two days of national mourning.
Officials Respond to the Tragedy
President of Cape Verde José Maria Neves described the incident as “a great catastrophe” in a translated statement posted on Facebook.
“I offer my condolences to the bereaved families, to the friends of the victims, and to the island of Fogo,” he said.
PEOPLE has contacted Mayor Silva and Cape Verde’s National Police for comment.
