Cape Verde Declares Two Days of Mourning After Bus Crash Kills 25

Cape Verde has declared two days of national mourning after a devastating bus crash on the island of Fogo killed 25 people, most of them children and teenagers.

The tragedy occurred late Saturday when a bus carrying passengers from an excursion to a village inside a volcanic crater veered off the road and plunged into a deep ravine.

The crash has shocked the Atlantic archipelago, where serious road accidents are considered relatively uncommon and roads are generally regarded as being in good condition.

Mass Held for Victims

Cape Verdean leaders joined mourners at a Mass on Sunday at a local church on Fogo, where 18 coffins were displayed as families and members of the community gathered to mourn the victims.

Seven of those killed were buried earlier on Sunday, while the remaining victims were expected to be laid to rest later in the day, according to public radio network RCV.

The scale of the tragedy has prompted a national outpouring of grief, with government officials expressing solidarity with the affected families.

Prime Minister Francisco Carvalho told public broadcaster TCV that he had ordered two days of mourning following the accident and indicated that additional measures would be announced.

Bus Driver Among Those Killed

The bus driver was among the 25 people who died in the crash.

According to officials, the driver had organised the excursion as an annual gift for the pupils he transported to school during the academic year.

The trip was intended as a recreational outing, but ended in tragedy when the bus left the roadway and plunged into the rocky ravine.

The remote location of the crash presented a significant challenge to emergency teams, who worked through the night to reach and rescue people trapped inside the wreckage.

President Orders Inquiry

President Jose Maria Neves said an investigation would be launched to establish the circumstances that led to the accident.

“Right now the priority is to show solidarity with the families of the victims,” Neves said.

The inquiry is expected to examine the events leading up to the crash, the condition of the vehicle and other factors that may have contributed to the accident.

Authorities have yet to announce the findings of the investigation.

Injured Victims Receiving Treatment

The regional hospital on Fogo continued treating survivors on Sunday.

Dionisio Semedo, a doctor at the hospital, told public television that 12 people remained under medical care, with two in serious condition.

He said the first victims began arriving at the hospital late Saturday night, between approximately 11pm and midnight.

Medical teams were subsequently mobilised to treat those injured in the crash while emergency personnel continued recovery operations at the scene.

A Nation in Mourning

The accident has left communities across Fogo mourning the loss of children and young people whose lives were cut short during what was meant to be a day of recreation.

The government has called for two days of mourning as the country honours the victims and supports their families.

With an official investigation now under way, authorities are expected to establish what caused the bus to leave the road and whether any safety measures could have prevented the disaster.

For now, Cape Verde remains focused on the victims, their families and the survivors recovering from one of the country's deadliest road accidents in recent memory.