Cape Verde Bus Tragedy: Death Toll Rises to 18 on Fogo Island
The death toll from a devastating bus crash on the island of Fogo, Cape Verde, has risen to 18 as recovery efforts and victim identifications continue. The tragedy occurred on Saturday when a bus carrying students on a school excursion veered off the road and plummeted 30 meters down an embankment in the locality of Campanas de Cima.
A Growing Toll and Urgent Rescue
João José Canuto, the Civil Protection councilman for São Filipe, confirmed the updated death toll to the Cape Verdean News Agency (Inforpress). While the number of fatalities has climbed to 18, authorities have not yet released a final count of those injured in the fall.
Emergency teams, including the Health Delegation, National Police, and Municipal Volunteer Firefighters, remain at the scene. The São Filipe City Council stated that it is coordinating all available resources to provide medical assistance to survivors and support to the families of the victims.
National Mourning Declared
The scale of the disaster has prompted an immediate official response. The municipality of São Filipe has declared two days of official mourning and scheduled an emergency meeting for Sunday to determine the specific aid packages and support services to be provided to the bereaved families.
President José Maria Neves, who initially reported a lower death toll of eight, expressed his deep sorrow as the magnitude of the accident became clearer. Prime Minister Francisco Carvalho also took to social media to offer his condolences.
“The government shares in the grief of this immense loss,” Prime Minister Carvalho said, offering solidarity to the people of Fogo. He praised the swift action of health professionals and rescue teams while wishing a speedy recovery to those fighting for their lives in the hospital.
Investigation Pending
Authorities have not yet determined what caused the bus to leave the roadway. The incident occurred in the municipality of Santa Catarina do Fogo, a region known for its rugged terrain. Investigations are expected to begin once the initial rescue and identification phases are complete.
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