Brake Failure Caused Fatal Cape Verde Bus Crash: Inquiry
A government-appointed commission of inquiry has confirmed that a catastrophic brake failure led to the bus crash that claimed 25 lives on Cape Verde’s Fogo Island last month. The tragedy, which occurred in September, remains one of the deadliest road accidents in the history of the archipelago.
Fatal Brake Overheating
Emanuel Almeida, Cape Verde’s Director General of Road Transport, revealed the findings of the investigation during a press conference on Monday. The commission concluded that the vehicle plunged down a steep slope after its braking system became completely unresponsive.
“The direct and determining cause identified by the Commission is the total loss of braking effectiveness due to severe thermal fatigue,” Almeida stated. Thermal fatigue, or overheating, typically occurs when brakes are applied excessively on long descents, causing the components to fail under extreme heat.
A National Tragedy
The accident devastated the island of Fogo, leaving 13 others injured in addition to the 25 fatalities. The scale of the loss prompted a national investigation into transport safety standards and the mechanical maintenance of public vehicles in the region.
As the government concludes its technical inquiry, the focus now shifts to how such mechanical failures can be prevented in the future to ensure the safety of passengers on the country’s mountainous terrain.
Image: Pexels – Nico Marín
