Credited from: AFRICANEWS
In a devastating incident on Friday, a passenger bus crashed into a ravine near Boumerdes, Algeria, resulting in at least 27 deaths and injuring approximately 39 others. The crash occurred on a route from Setif to the capital, Algiers, with authorities reporting that the cause is currently unknown, according to Al Jazeera.
The Algerian civil defense agency stated that they responded to the accident at around 9:40 am local time and warned that the death toll may rise. The crash is noted to be one of the deadliest in recent years in Algeria, echoing similar tragic incidents in the past year that resulted in numerous fatalities, as mentioned by Africanews and BBC.
In the aftermath, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune declared three days of national mourning and emphasized a crackdown on what he termed "road criminals." He stated that investigations would lead to accountability, as reinforced by Health Minister Mohamed Seddik Ait Messaoudene, highlighting that human factors such as speeding contribute significantly to road accidents, according to Al Jazeera, Africanews, and BBC.