Cape Verde: At least 25 killed in bus crash

At least 25 people died when a bus carrying 32 passengers left the road and plunged into a deep, rocky ravine in Cape Verde on Saturday. Most of the victims were children and young people, and the bus driver was also among those killed.

The crash happened as the bus traveled back to São Filipe from the village of Cha das Caldeiras, in the Pico do Fogo volcanic area. Several people were injured, some of them seriously, according to José Canuto, head of the rescue service in São Filipe.

Rescue workers continued through the night into Sunday to free victims trapped inside the wrecked bus. Cape Verde’s public radio network RCV reported the deaths, and the AFP and AP news agencies also covered the incident.

President José Maria Pereira Neves described the crash as a “huge catastrophe” in a statement posted on Facebook. Authorities had not yet established what caused it. A local news agency reported that the president and senior government officials were expected to visit the island on Sunday.

Similar accidents are rare in Cape Verde, where the country’s roads are generally considered to be in good condition.

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A huge catastrophe