At least 27 people were killed and 39 others injured when a bus fell into a ravine in Algeria, according to the country's Civil Defence. The incident occurred near the coastal town of Boumerdes, east of the capital Algiers.
The bus veered off the road for reasons that are still under investigation, with emergency services responding to the scene around 9:40 p.m. local time on Friday. Health Minister Mohamed Seddik Ait Messaoudene confirmed the number of injured, noting that two individuals were in critical condition. He also cautioned that the death toll could increase.
Pictures shared by the Civil Defence showed the bus on its side, its roof detached and its boot open. Witnesses described the scene, with one individual, Ryad Ferkioui, suggesting a sharp turn in the road may have been a contributing factor.
Another witness, Bilal Bensalem, recounted attempting to assist victims before the arrival of emergency personnel. "I found some people dead and others still alive. Some had their hands cut off, among other injuries," he stated.
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune expressed profound sorrow over the incident and declared three days of national mourning. He pledged that a thorough investigation would be conducted and justice would be served.
This crash is considered the deadliest in Algeria in recent years. It follows a similar incident just one year prior, where a bus plunged into a ravine near Algiers, resulting in 18 fatalities. In December of the previous year, 14 people died when a bus overturned in the southern Bechar region.
Algerian road safety authorities indicate that human factors, such as speeding and driver inattention, are the primary causes of most road accidents. In 2025, traffic accidents across the nation resulted in 3,838 deaths and over 37,000 injuries.