At least 27 people are killed and 39 are injured after a bus plunged into a ravine in Algeria

Get your news delivered straight to you by 7am - sign up to our new Morning Mail newsletter for FREE See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 15:28 EDT, 31 July 2026 | Updated: 15:29 EDT, 31 July 2026 At least 27 people have been killed and 39 others injured after a bus in Algeria plunged into a ravine. The bus, which was travelling near the coastal town of Boumerdes, east of capital Algiers, left the road for unknown reasons, according to the country's Civil Defence. The agency said its teams responded to the accident at around 9.40pm local time on Friday. Mohamed Seddik Ait Messaoudene, Algeria's Health Minister, confirmed 39 people have been injured in the crash, with two in critical condition. Mr Messaoudene also warned the death toll, which at present is believed to be 27, could also rise. The Civil Defence later posted pictures on social media of the bus lying on its side. Further pictures show the vehicle without its roof, and its boot forced open. Witness Ryad Ferkioui said he believed a dangerous turn in the road was a factor in the crash. At least 27 people have been killed and 39 others injured after a bus in travelling near a coastal town in Algeria plunged into a ravine Pictures of the bus following the crash show its roof ripped off A witness said he tried to help the victims by carrying several out of the ravine The crash, which is Algeria's deadliest in recent years, comes only one year after a bus plunged into a ravine near Algiers, killing 18Another witness, Bilal Bensalem, said he had tried to help the victims by carrying several out of the ravine before the Civil Defence arrived.He said: 'I found some people dead and others still alive. Some had their hands cut off, among other injuries.'Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune expressed 'immense sorrow' and declared three days of mourning following the crash. He also pledged that 'justice will strike with an iron fist, without the slightest leniency' once the investigation into the crash was completed.The crash, which is Algeria's deadliest in recent years, comes only one year after a bus plunged into a ravine near Algiers, killing 18. In December of last year, 14 others also died after a bus overturned in the country's southern region of Bechar. According to Algerian road safety authorities, human factors such as speeding and inattention account for most crashes. In 2025, 3,838 people died and more than 37,000 were injured in traffic accidents across the nation.