25 Dead, 44 Injured in Algeria Bus Disaster, Three Days of Mourning Declared

At least 25 people were killed and 44 others injured after a passenger bus veered off the road and plunged into a deep ravine near Algeria's capital on Friday, according to the country's Civil Protection agency. Officials said the casualty toll is provisional as rescue and recovery efforts continue.

The bus was travelling from Sétif to Algiers when it reportedly lost control near El Karma, around 50 kilometres from Algiers. The vehicle skidded off the roadway before crashing into the ravine, prompting a large-scale emergency response. Rescue teams and ambulances rushed to the scene, evacuating survivors and transporting the injured to nearby hospitals. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the accident.

Following the tragedy, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune declared three days of national mourning in honour of the victims. Messages of condolence have poured in as the country grapples with one of its deadliest road accidents in recent months.

The crash has once again highlighted Algeria's persistent road safety challenges. Despite repeated government campaigns to improve traffic safety, fatal accidents continue to occur due to factors such as speeding, driver fatigue, unsafe overtaking, poor vehicle maintenance, and weak enforcement of traffic regulations.

The incident also revives memories of another major bus tragedy on August 15, 2025, when a public transport bus crashed through a bridge barrier in Algiers and plunged into a river, killing 18 people and injuring 21. That accident prompted renewed commitments to strengthen transport safety, but deadly crashes have continued.

Road accidents remain one of the leading causes of accidental deaths in Algeria, claiming thousands of lives each year. Safety experts have repeatedly called for stricter traffic law enforcement, improved commercial vehicle inspections, better driver training, and safer road infrastructure to reduce fatalities and prevent similar tragedies in the future.