At least 25 people, mostly children and teenagers, have been killed in a bus crash on the Cape Verdean island of Fogo, according to public broadcaster RCV.
Several other passengers were injured, with some reportedly sustaining serious injuries in the accident that occurred on Saturday.
The bus, carrying 32 people, was returning to the island’s main city, São Filipe, after an excursion to the crater of Pico do Fogo, when it reportedly veered off the road and plunged into a deep ravine.
The driver was among those killed in the crash.
According to local reports, the driver had organised the annual excursion as a gift for pupils he transported to school during the academic year.
The wreckage came to rest in a rocky valley that was difficult for emergency teams to access. Rescue workers battled through the night to reach and evacuate passengers trapped inside the vehicle.
RCV reported that seven victims were buried early on Sunday, while the remaining victims were expected to be laid to rest later in the day.
Cape Verdean President José Maria Pereira Neves described the incident as “a great catastrophe” in a statement posted on his Facebook page.
The president and other government officials were expected to travel to Fogo on Sunday to meet with affected families and assess the situation.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.
