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Ayoub trapped in Algeria
Rescue teams in western Algeria raced against time to save 10-year-old Ayoub after he fell into a narrow, dry well about 80 meters deep, with an opening not exceeding 40 centimeters in diameter.
“The 10-year-old Ayoub fell into a dry well in the municipality of El-Gasoul”
The boy fell in the municipality of El-Gasoul in the Daira of Bṛizina after stepping over a sheet of plywood that covered the well opening, which cracked under his weight.
Algerian Civil Protection spokesman Karim Ben Fekhi said the General Directorate of Civil Protection began its intervention to save the child in mid-day on Wednesday, confirming the provision of resources for the operation.
Because the narrow opening and the risk of soil collapse prevented direct descent, rescuers adopted an alternative plan to dig a deep trench parallel to the well and then breach the well wall horizontally to reach Ayoub.
The rescue effort was reinforced with a unit specialized in rugged terrain intervention, cameras designed to explore wells, and heavy machinery, while a medical team and ambulances remained on site.
Parallel digging and pressure
Emergency officials described the rescue operation as “extremely complex” because of rugged terrain, brittle soil, the narrow opening, and the depth of the well.
A massive trench running parallel to the well continued to be excavated as rescuers worked to reach the level believed to be where Ayoub was trapped, with precautionary measures to prevent soil collapse.
Gulf Daily News said the traditionally dug well lacked protective casings and was further complicated by soil dumped inside, reaching a depth of around 30 metres.
Instead of lowering rescuers directly into the shaft, Gulf Daily News reported that rescuers adopted a strategy of digging a parallel shaft towards the spot where Ayoub is believed to be trapped, before carefully excavating a horizontal tunnel to reach him from the side.
Karim Ben Fahsi, a spokesman for Algeria's Civil Protection, said rescue efforts began around midday on Wednesday with a large deployment of equipment including bulldozers, drilling machinery, ambulances, and specialist rescue teams.
Memories of Rayan
The Ayoub incident has been repeatedly compared with the Moroccan case of Rayan, who in February 2022 fell into a narrow well about 32 meters deep in a village in Chefchaouen province in northern Morocco.
“Rayan’s well was about 32 meters deep”
Al Jazeera said Ayoub fell into the well in El Ghassoul municipality in southwest Algeria and that rescue teams were racing against time to save him after he fell into an 80-metre-deep well.
The Gulf News report also described Ayoub’s fall as occurring in the village of Al Rokn, in El Ghassoul municipality, Brezina district, in El Bayadh province, when the wooden board covering the opening collapsed beneath him.
In Algeria, the effort to reach Ayoub continued as specialized teams dug through earth and rock in the hope of bringing the 10-year-old safely to the surface, with a medical team on site and ambulances and rescue trucks at the scene.
The rescue operation’s stakes were underscored by the need to avoid destabilizing the surrounding soil during each stage of the parallel excavation and horizontal passage.