At least 25 dead in bus crash on Fogo island, Cape Verde

At least 25 people were killed late Saturday when a bus plunged into a steep ravine on the island of Fogo, Cape Verde. The vehicle, carrying approximately 35 passengers, veered off a mountain road in the northern part of the island and fell about 30 meters. Many of the deceased are children and teenagers, identified as primary and secondary school students. The driver, who was among the fatalities, had organized the excursion privately, as education officials clarified the trip was not a school-sanctioned event.

Several injured passengers were transported to the Sao Francisco de Assis Regional Hospital for treatment. Cape Verdean President Jose Maria Pereira Neves expressed his condolences, describing the event as a major tragedy. Local authorities have initiated an investigation to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the accident. While the immediate cause of the vehicle's departure from the road remains under scrutiny, the scale of the disaster has prompted national mourning.