São Filipe, Cape Verde — A tragic bus accident on Saturday night resulted in the deaths of 25 people, including the driver, after a vehicle carrying secondary school students veered off the steep Campanas de Cima route and plummeted approximately 100 feet into a rocky ravine. The incident occurred around 9 p.m. local time as the bus was returning home from a day trip to the picturesque Chã das Caldeiras settlement located within a volcanic crater on the island of Fogo.
Most of the victims were teenagers, prompting grief across the island. Mayor Nuias Silva of São Filipe confirmed the death toll as the local community grappled with the aftermath of the disaster. Initial reports suggested around 30 individuals were on board, but a full count indicated 38 passengers plus the driver. At least 14 others sustained injuries, with four in serious condition, as they were transported to the São Francisco de Assis Regional Hospital. Health authorities noted that due to their condition, seven of the deceased were buried shortly after recovery.
This catastrophe marks the deadliest transport accident in Cape Verde’s history, surpassing the tragic 1999 crash of TACV Flight 5002. The victims primarily hailed from the two communities of Curral Grande and Ponta Verde, where the population is scattered over rugged terrain. As the bus fell, some passengers were ejected, while others found themselves trapped inside, hampering rescue efforts exacerbated by the rocky ground where the bus came to rest.
In a show of solidarity, the São Filipe Municipal Council reached out to the affected families, classmates, and teachers, expressing their condolences during this time of profound loss. President Jose Maria Neves characterized the incident as “a great catastrophe,” offering heartfelt sympathies to those mourning their loved ones. Prime Minister Francisco Carvalho referred to the crash as “the greatest tragedy we have ever had in post-independence Cape Verde,” and he announced an inquiry to establish the crash’s causes.
As part of the nation’s response to the tragedy, two days of mourning were declared. All victims were laid to rest during a mass funeral service at São Lourenço Church in the town of São Lourenço, attended by grieving family members and friends. Carvalho further revealed plans for a multidisciplinary emergency response team to be established, ensuring readiness for future incidents. Investigators from the Ministry of Infrastructure were dispatched to Fogo Island to scrutinize the mechanical condition of the bus involved in the accident.
The causes of the bus’s abrupt departure from the road remain under investigation. Initial accounts varied, with some suggesting equipment failure while others reported the vehicle simply running off the mountain path. Investigators will assess the layout of the route, the state of the bus, and any potential issues with roadside barriers to understand better what led to the severity of the accident.
In light of this disaster, Cape Verdean authorities have launched a safety audit of the Chã das Caldeiras road. A team from Estradas de Cabo Verde is examining the site of the crash and considering potential new traffic regulations, which may include the installation of guardrails and restrictions on heavy vehicles in certain areas.
This devastating event takes on even greater significance in Cape Verde, a small nation with a population of fewer than 600,000. Fogo Island is home to close-knit communities where the impact of such loss is both profound and far-reaching. With statistics indicating an increase in road accidents across the nation, officials are under pressure to address safety issues and prevent future tragedies. In 2024 alone, road accidents in Cape Verde reportedly resulted in 39 fatalities, a figure that has seen a troubling upward trend in recent years.