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Ravine Crash Near Boumerdes
A passenger bus crashed into a ravine in Algeria near the coastal town of Boumerdes, east of the capital Algiers, killing at least 27 people and injuring dozens, the country’s health minister said.
“At least 27 people have died, and dozens have been wounded after a bus crashed into a ravine in Algeria”
TRT World reported that the bus left the road for unknown reasons, and civil defence said its teams responded around 9:40 am local time to assist victims of what it called the deadliest accident in Algeria in recent years.
AP put the toll at at least 25 killed and 44 injured, saying the bus skidded in the locality of El Karma about 50 kilometers (30 miles) from Algiers before plunging into a deep ravine.
Health Minister Mohamed Seddik Ait Messaoudene said at least 39 people were injured, including two in critical condition, and warned that the death toll could rise.
The crash was followed by national mourning after Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune declared three days of mourning, as rescue teams worked and ambulances transported the injured to nearby hospitals.
Witnesses, Response, and Mourning
Witness Bilal Bensalem told AFP that he found victims in the ravine, saying, "I found some people dead and others still alive. Some had their hands cut off, among other injuries," as civil defence arrived.
Another witness, Ryad Ferkioui, said he believed a dangerous turn in the road had been a factor in the crash, while civil defence posted photos on social media showing the bus lying on its side.
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune expressed "immense sorrow" and declared three days of mourning, and he pledged that "justice will strike with an iron fist, without the slightest leniency" once the investigation into the crash was completed.
The BBC said the civil protection department stated the cause of the crash was unknown, and it described the coach lying at the bottom of a ravine near Boumerdes.
The BBC also reported that Algerian Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb spoke to emergency service workers when he visited the crash site and that those hurt were evacuated to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Condolences and Road Safety Stakes
Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry extended condolences to Algeria after the bus crash in Boumerdes province, saying it was "deeply saddened" by the loss of life and wishing Allah's mercy upon those who died.
“it was "deeply saddened" by the loss of life”
In a statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said, "We wish Allah's mercy upon those who lost their lives in the accident, and extend our condolences to their families and to the people of Algeria," as it offered sympathy following the deaths and injuries.
Algerian road safety authorities pointed to human factors including speeding and inattention as the main cause of crashes in the country, and they said that in 2025, 3,838 people died and more than 37,000 were injured in traffic accidents.
AP described the bus as carrying passengers from Sétif to the Algerian capital, and it said rescue teams were working with a constant flow of ambulances transporting the injured to the nearest hospitals.
The crash also drew attention to earlier fatalities, with TRT World noting that in August last year a bus plunged into a ravine near Algiers killing 18 people and that in December 14 people died when their bus overturned in Bechar.
