Portugal Mourns Cape Verde Bus Tragedy: 25 Dead on Fogo
The President of the Portuguese Assembly, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, has expressed “deep consternation and immense sadness” following a devastating bus accident in Cape Verde that claimed the lives of at least 25 people, many of whom were children.
The tragedy occurred Saturday night on the island of Fogo when a bus transporting students on a school trip veered off the road. The vehicle plunged approximately 30 meters down an embankment in the locality of Campanas de Cima, within the municipality of Santa Catarina do Fogo. Local authorities confirmed that the crash resulted in 25 fatalities and left numerous others injured.
“Brutality and Injustice”
In a statement released on the Parliament’s official website, Aguiar-Branco lamented the “brutality and injustice of this tragedy,” noting how it “cut short so many lives so early.” Speaking on behalf of the Portuguese Parliament, he offered heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families, the Cape Verdean authorities, and the nation at large.
“The pain of this loss is difficult to express in words,” Aguiar-Branco said, adding a “special word of deep solidarity” to the families of the young students affected by the crash.
Cape Verde Mourns
The scale of the disaster has prompted an immediate response from Cape Verde’s highest officials. President José Maria Neves traveled to Fogo on Sunday to meet with survivors and bereaved families. Prime Minister Francisco Carvalho, already on the ground, praised the tireless efforts of healthcare professionals and rescue teams working at the scene.
The Municipality of São Filipe has declared two days of official mourning. Local leaders held an emergency meeting on Sunday to coordinate support services and financial assistance for the families impacted by the accident.
While the exact cause of the crash remains under investigation, the event has sparked a wave of international sympathy for the Atlantic archipelago, with Portuguese leaders emphasizing the deep historical and cultural ties that make this tragedy felt acutely in Lisbon.
Image: Pexels – Cheng
