Mourners in Algeria on Sunday bade farewell to 10-year-old Ayoub Hadaf, whose body was recovered a day earlier after he spent four days trapped inside a narrow, 80-metre-deep well.
Draped in the Algerian flag, Ayoub’s coffin was carried by civil protection workers during his funeral in Ghassoul, in El Bayadh province, as relatives, neighbours and residents gathered to pay their final respects.
Ayoub became trapped after the ground covering the well reportedly gave way as he walked over it while accompanying his brother.
“On the day of the accident, he was walking with his brother, who was just ahead of him,” his uncle, Abdelhak Hadef, said. “As he walked over the well, which had been covered with earth, he stopped on top of it. The ground gave way beneath his feet.”
Emergency crews spent four days conducting a difficult rescue operation, but when rescuers eventually reached Ayoub, they found that he had died.
The well was reportedly about 80 metres deep and only 40 centimetres wide, making it extremely difficult for rescuers to reach the boy.
Rescue workers said Ayoub was trapped beneath a thick layer of soil, forcing emergency teams to use heavy machinery to excavate a large pit beside the well in an effort to reach him.
The rescue operation attracted widespread attention across Algeria, with social media users expressing concern and calling for efforts to save the child.
Following the tragedy, residents called for greater safety measures around abandoned or uncovered wells.
Saad Mouaness, a neighbour of the family, urged well owners to take responsibility for securing the openings.
“Today, we have gathered for the funeral of our dear Ayoub, who fell into this well. This is no trivial matter. We must not, under any circumstances, take this lightly,” he said.
“Anyone who owns a well must cover it! And even if we do not know the owner, let us help one another and get in touch with one another to make these openings safe,” he added.
