At least 25 people were killed on Saturday evening when a school bus veered off a mountain road on Cape Verde’s Fogo Island and plunged approximately 30 meters (100 feet) into a rocky ravine. The victims were mostly teenagers and schoolchildren who were returning from a field trip.
The crash occurred on September 5, 2026, on the road between Chã das Caldeiras and Campanas de Cima in the northern highlands of the municipality of São Filipe. The bus was carrying students from Curral Grande and Ponta Verde, and the driver was among those killed. Cape Verde’s government has declared two days of national mourning following the tragedy.
The bus was traveling on a mountainous route on Fogo Island at approximately 9 p.m. local time when it left the roadway and plunged into a steep ravine. The vehicle reportedly fell about 30 meters (approximately 100 feet) into a rocky valley, complicating rescue and recovery operations.
According to local officials, most of the passengers were young people—primarily secondary school students from the communities of Curral Grande and Ponta Verde—who were returning from a field trip to Chã das Caldeiras, a village located inside the Pico do Fogo volcanic crater.
The excursion had been organized by the bus driver, who transported students to school during the academic year. Local education authorities have clarified that the trip was not an official school-organized activity but rather an annual outing arranged privately by the driver.
Emergency personnel worked through the night to rescue victims trapped in the wreckage, which came to a rest in a remote, rocky area that was difficult for rescue teams to access.
The death toll has risen steadily since the crash. Cape Verdean President José Maria Neves initially reported at least 10 deaths before later updating the count to 21. By Sunday, the death toll had climbed to 25.
The dead include the bus driver, who organized the excursion. Authorities reported that seven bodies were immediately buried due to their condition. Final casualty figures are expected to be confirmed after rescue operations and victim identification are completed.
According to reports, the bus was carrying mostly young passengers—primarily secondary school students from Curral Grande and Ponta Verde. Some reports indicated that the bus carried approximately 32 passengers.
The students had traveled to Chã das Caldeiras for what was described as an annual excursion organized by the driver as a gesture of appreciation for the students he transported during the school year. The trip was not sanctioned or organized by local schools.
The crash occurred on the Campanas de Cima route, a mountainous area in the northern part of Fogo Island. The bus veered off the road and plunged approximately 30 meters (about 100 feet) into a steep ravine.
The rugged terrain of the Pico do Fogo volcanic region made rescue operations particularly challenging. Emergency responders faced difficult access conditions as they worked to reach victims trapped in the wreckage.
Emergency personnel worked through the night to rescue victims trapped in the wreckage. The remote and rocky location of the crash site hampered rescue efforts, with authorities noting the difficult-to-access terrain.
Several injured passengers were transported to São Francisco de Assis Regional Hospital on Fogo. According to reports, approximately 19 injured people were taken to the hospital, with some in serious condition. Two teenage girls remained in critical condition.
A government delegation led by Prime Minister Francisco Carvalho, accompanied by surgeons, orthopedic specialists, and psychologists, traveled to Fogo Island to coordinate the response. The government also sent a 16-member medical team to reinforce local medical services.
The cause of the crash has not been established. Authorities are investigating what caused the bus to leave the roadway.
President José Maria Neves has called for a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the accident and help prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The government of Cape Verde declared two days of national mourning following the tragedy. Under the resolution approved by the Council of Ministers, national flags are being flown at half-mast at public buildings across the country and at Cape Verde’s diplomatic and consular missions abroad. Public celebrations and performances have also been canceled during the mourning period.
Prime Minister Francisco Carvalho, who traveled to Fogo on Sunday along with the ministers of health and justice, said the government had set up a crisis response team. President José Maria Neves also traveled to Fogo, expressing solidarity with the victims’ families and calling for psychological support for those affected by the tragedy.
The Mayor of São Filipe, Nuías Silva, also expressed condolences to the affected families and communities.
A school bus carrying students on a field trip veered off a mountain road on Cape Verde’s Fogo Island on September 5, 2026, and plunged approximately 30 meters (100 feet) into a rocky ravine, killing at least 25 people, mostly teenagers and schoolchildren.
At least 25 people were killed in the crash, including the bus driver. The death toll rose from an initial count of 10 to 21, and then to 25.
The crash occurred on Fogo Island, Cape Verde, on the road between Chã das Caldeiras and Campanas de Cima in the northern highlands of the municipality of São Filipe.
The bus fell approximately 30 meters (about 100 feet) into a steep, rocky ravine.
Yes, the students were returning from a field trip to Chã das Caldeiras, a village located inside the Pico do Fogo volcanic crater. The trip was organized annually by the bus driver, not by local schools.
The cause of the crash has not been established and remains under investigation by authorities.
Yes, approximately 14 people were injured, with some transported to São Francisco de Assis Regional Hospital. Reports indicated that two teenage girls remained in critical condition.
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