Cape Verde Bus Crash Kills at Least 25 People as Student Group Plunges Into Ravine

At least 25 people, including a bus driver, have died after a vehicle carrying primarily students and teenagers plunged into a deep ravine in Cape Verde on the evening of September 5, 2026.

The bus was reportedly carrying a group returning from a field trip to Chã das Caldeiras when it crashed along the Campanas de Cima route. The vehicle plunged approximately 30 meters (100 feet) into a rugged ravine, triggering a difficult rescue and recovery operation.

Local authorities confirmed that at least 25 people were killed in the disaster. Many of those on board were students and teenagers, making the tragedy particularly devastating for families and communities affected by the crash.

Approximately 19 people were transported to hospitals for medical treatment following the accident. Four of the injured were reported to be in serious condition.

Rescue teams faced major challenges because of the area’s steep and rocky terrain. The difficult landscape complicated efforts to reach the wreckage, evacuate survivors and recover those who died.

The crash has sent shockwaves across Cape Verde as families await further information about their loved ones and communities mourn those lost.

In response to the tragedy, Cape Verde declared two days of national mourning, reflecting the scale of the loss and the profound impact the accident has had across the country.

Authorities are expected to continue investigating the circumstances that caused the bus to leave the road and plunge into the ravine. Further details about the crash and the identities of those killed or injured are expected as officials continue their work.

For the families of the victims, the tragedy has turned what began as a routine educational outing into an unimaginable loss. The nation now mourns alongside them as rescue and recovery efforts continue.

Source: People.com