A passenger bus plunged into a deep ravine in northern Algeria, killing at least 27 people and injuring 39 others, according to the country's health minister.
The accident occurred on Friday as the bus was traveling from the city of Setif to the capital, Algiers. The vehicle skidded off the road near El Karma, about 50 kilometers from its destination, and fell into a steep canyon.
Rescue teams arrived at the scene, with ambulances continuously transporting the injured to nearby hospitals. Health Minister Mohamed Seddik Ait Messaoudene warned that the death toll could rise further.
Local media reported that Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb visited some of the wounded being treated at Boumerdes University Hospital.
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune declared three days of national mourning, according to state television. In a statement posted on social media, Tebboune called those responsible for the accident "road criminals and terrorists." The justice system will "deal with them severely, without concession," after the investigation is complete.
The Civil Protection Agency said the bus left the road for reasons yet to be determined. According to Algeria's road safety agency, human factors, including speeding, are the main causes of accidents in the country.
Last year, 3,838 people died and more than 37,000 were injured in traffic accidents in Algeria. The Civil Protection Agency said it received the report at 9:40 a.m. local time (8:40 a.m. GMT), making this the deadliest accident in Algeria in recent years.
Previously, in August last year, a bus plunged into a ravine near Algiers, killing 18 people and injuring 21. In December, 14 people died when a bus overturned in the southern region of Bechar.
