Most of the victims were children and teenagers returning from a school excursion when their bus plunged into a ravine.

Fogo Island, Cape Verde (Running Africa) — At least 25 people have died after a bus carrying 32 passengers plunged into a ravine on Cape Verde’s Fogo Island, in one of the country’s deadliest road accidents in recent years.

The bus was returning to São Filipe, the island’s capital, following an excursion to Chã das Caldeiras, a settlement located inside the crater of the Pico do Fogo volcano.

Most of those killed were children and teenagers, while several other passengers were injured, some critically.

Rescuers Battle Difficult Terrain on Fogo Island

Emergency teams spent hours navigating steep and rocky terrain to reach the wreckage and recover victims following the crash.

The bus had been carrying 32 people when it left the road and fell into the ravine.

Authorities have not yet established what caused the vehicle to leave the road, and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident is expected.

Driver Organized Trip for Schoolchildren

The driver, who was also killed in the crash, had reportedly organized the excursion for pupils he regularly transported to school.

The outing was said to have been arranged as a gift for the children, but it ended in tragedy on the return journey to São Filipe.

The large number of young victims has intensified the disaster’s impact on families and communities across Fogo Island.

Cape Verde Mourns Bus Crash Victims

Funeral services for some of those killed began on Sunday as relatives, friends, and community members gathered to mourn.

The accident has shocked Cape Verde, where major fatal road disasters of this scale are relatively rare.

Local and emergency officials continue to support affected families as critically injured survivors receive medical care.

Authorities are also expected to examine the condition of the vehicle, road, and other circumstances that may have contributed to the crash as they work to establish its cause.

The Fogo Island bus crash, which has left at least 25 people dead, stands as one of Cape Verde’s most devastating recent road tragedies, with communities now mourning the loss of children, teenagers, and adults who had been returning home from an excursion.