Cape Verde Honors Heroes After Fogo Island Bus Crash Death Toll
SÃO FILIPE, Cape Verde — Cape Verde’s Minister of Health has hailed the local residents who rushed to the scene of a devastating bus crash on Fogo Island as “unsung heroes,” stating their rapid response likely prevented the death toll from climbing even higher.
The crash, which claimed 25 lives on Saturday, left a trail of destruction in the Campanas de Cima region. Speaking to Lusa, Health Minister Lúcio Miranda Fernandes credited civilians with being the first on the scene, long before official rescue teams could navigate the difficult terrain.
“They were the ones who arrived first… creating a path to reach the wreckage and carrying the first victims out,” Fernandes said. “Without their speed, the number of fatalities could have been even higher.”
A Desperate Rescue Effort
Local resident José Alves described a harrowing scene as neighbors descended a steep ravine without specialized gear to reach survivors. Alves personally made four trips down the slope to carry victims to safety.
“Without any training or equipment, we just picked people up to save them,” Alves recalled. He remembered one child pleading, “Take me to Bila,” referring to the island’s main urban center, São Filipe.
Addressing concerns regarding the medical response, Fernandes insisted that the 25 victims who died did not perish due to a lack of care. He noted that those pronounced dead at São Filipe hospital arrived in “critical condition,” suffering from severe traumatic brain injuries. Specialized medical teams were flown in from the capital, Praia, on the first available flight to assist survivors.
Investigation and Safety Reforms
The Cape Verdean government has launched a formal investigation into the tragedy. A multidisciplinary team—including road safety experts, insurance technicians, and vehicle inspectors—will analyze both the site and the wreckage of the bus.
“We must determine the causes. An independent report will be produced and released to the public,” Fernandes said, declining to speculate on whether mechanical failure or road conditions were to blame.
However, the Minister acknowledged that the tragedy highlights urgent infrastructure needs. Fogo Island’s volcanic, mountainous landscape makes for treacherous driving, and many roads lack essential safety barriers. Fernandes suggested that larger vehicles might be restricted from certain dangerous routes in the future, reserving them for emergency use only.
National Mourning
The government has declared two days of national mourning for the victims, most of whom were students and young people. Officials also corrected the total number of people involved in the accident to 38, noting that a pregnant woman previously listed among the injured was not actually on the bus.
Currently, 13 people remain injured. While two were transferred to Praia for specialized surgery, the nine patients remaining at Fogo Island hospital are reported to be in stable condition. In response to the disaster, Prime Minister Francisco Carvalho has pledged to strengthen the nation’s Civil Protection services and create a permanent multidisciplinary emergency response team.
Image: Pexels – Nico Marín
