Algerian bus plunges into ravine killing at least 27
A passenger bus traveling from Setif to Algiers crashed into a ravine in northern Algeria on Friday, killing at least 27 people and injuring 39 others. The vehicle skidded near El Karma, approximately 50 kilometers from Algiers. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune declared three days of national mourning and stated those responsible would face strict justice.
A bus en route from Setif to Algeria's capital lost control near El Karma on Friday morning and plunged into a deep ravine, resulting in significant casualties. Health authorities confirmed at least 27 deaths and 39 injuries, with warnings that the toll could increase as rescue operations continued. Emergency response teams deployed ambulances to transport the injured to nearby medical facilities.
The Civil Protection agency indicated the bus departed the roadway for reasons not immediately determined. According to Algerian road safety data, human factors such as excessive speed represent the primary cause of traffic accidents in the country, which recorded 3,838 fatalities and over 37,000 injuries in the previous year.
Algeria's political leadership responded swiftly to the incident. Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb visited injured patients at the University Hospital of Boumerdes, while President Tebboune announced a three-day national mourning period. In remarks distributed through official channels, Tebboune characterized those responsible as "road criminals and terrorists" and pledged that the justice system would pursue accountability with severity following investigation completion.
This incident ranks among Algeria's deadliest transportation accidents in recent years. A comparable event occurred in August when another bus crashed into a ravine near Algiers, killing 18 and injuring 21. Additionally, a December bus overturn in the southern Bechar region claimed 14 lives.
The live signal stream across the Qatari market.