A school bus carrying students plunged one hundred feet into a rocky ravine on Fogo Island in Cape Verde late Saturday evening leaving at least twenty five people dead and several others injured. The accident occurred around nine in the evening local time as the vehicle traveled the Campanas de Cima route while returning from an outing to Cha das Caldeiras.
Officials confirmed the bus held an estimated thirty to thirty two passengers most of them teenagers and children from the communities of Curral Grande and Ponta Verde. The driver who organized the trip as an annual tradition for the students he regularly transported was among those killed. Education authorities noted the excursion was a private arrangement rather than an official school activity. Rescue teams faced significant challenges due to the steep rocky terrain and remote location near a riverbed.
Emergency personnel worked through the night to reach the wreckage and extract both survivors and victims. Several injured passengers were transported to Sao Francisco de Assis Regional Hospital where some remained in serious condition. Initial reports indicated the death toll rose from eighteen on Saturday night to twenty five by Sunday. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
The bus had been traveling a cliffside road with sharp bends when it left the pavement and fell into the ravine. Local leaders including Sao Filipe Mayor Nuías Silva and education minister José Pedro Gonçalves expressed profound sorrow and extended condolences to the families colleagues teachers and the wider community. The Municipality of Sao Filipe issued a statement highlighting the painful loss of life and the shock felt across the island. Cape Verde President Jose Maria Pereira Neves described the event as a great catastrophe.
Prime Minister Francisco Carvalho declared two days of national mourning. A religious festival planned in the area was cancelled so that communities could focus on grief and support for those affected. Funerals began quickly with some victims buried on Sunday morning and others later in the day. Church services took place with officials attending to honor the dead.
Doctors at the regional hospital reported that a number of survivors continued receiving treatment including two in critical condition. The tragedy has shaken the small island nation where such accidents are uncommon and roads are generally well maintained. Communities on Fogo Island now confront the sudden absence of many young people who had been enjoying a special outing with a familiar driver. Families colleagues and educational groups have received messages of solidarity as the nation processes the scale of the loss.
Investigators continue examining the circumstances that led the bus off the road. Authorities have promised further support measures for the affected families and communities. The event stands as a stark reminder of the fragility of life even on what was meant to be a joyful tradition for local students.
