Lead

A bus crash in northern Algeria that killed at least 28 people was caused by a driver who was under the influence of drugs and driving at more than twice the speed limit, according to Algerian prosecutors. The bus plunged into a ravine on Friday near the coastal town of Boumerdes, east of the capital Algiers. The crash also injured 36 people, authorities said.

Coverage Comparison

Initial reports from the country's civil defence agency put the death toll at 25, with 44 injured, and said the bus left the road for unknown reasons. A later statement from President Abdelmadjid Tebboune's office updated the toll to 25 dead and 44 injured. However, prosecutors' preliminary investigation, reported by Africa News, said the final toll was 28 dead and 36 injured.

Authorities said the bus was carrying 64 people, exceeding its maximum authorised capacity of 51, including the driver. The investigation found the bus was travelling at 121.63 km/h on a stretch of road with a 60 km/h limit between Boumerdes and the neighbouring town of Zemmouri. The driver, who was among those killed, had two psychotropic pills in his possession, prosecutors said.

Key Claims

  • The bus plunged into a ravine near Boumerdes, killing at least 28 people and injuring 36, according to prosecutors' preliminary investigation.
  • The driver was under the influence of drugs and was travelling at more than twice the speed limit, as reported by Africa News.
  • The vehicle was carrying 64 passengers, exceeding its authorised capacity of 51, according to investigators.
  • President Abdelmadjid Tebboune vowed that those responsible would face justice and declared three days of national mourning, as reported by multiple sources.
  • Road safety authorities say human error, including speeding and reckless manoeuvres, accounts for more than 96% of crashes in Algeria, according to Africa News.

Government and Official Responses

President Tebboune expressed his condolences to the victims' families, saying he learned "with deep sorrow and grief" of the tragedy. In a statement carried by AllAfrica, he said the accident occurred "at the hands of reckless drivers and road terrorists," and that "justice will strike with an iron fist and without leniency" once investigations are complete. He declared three days of national mourning, during which the national flag will be flown at half-mast.

Nigeria's Federal Government also expressed condolences to Algeria, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson saying the country was "deeply saddened" by the crash. Nigeria acknowledged the three days of national mourning and said it stands in solidarity with Algeria.

Context

The crash is among the deadliest road accidents in Algeria in recent years. In August last year, a bus plunged into a ravine near Algiers, killing 18 people, and in December, 14 people died when their bus overturned in the Bechar region. Algerian road safety authorities have said that human factors, including speeding, are the main cause of crashes in the country, with official figures showing 3,838 people died in traffic accidents in 2025.