At least 25 people have been confirmed dead, while 44 others were injured after a passenger bus veered off the road and plunged into a ravine in northern Algeria on Friday.

The tragic accident occurred in the El Karma area of Boumerdes Province, about 50 kilometres east of the capital, Algiers.

According to Algeria’s Civil Protection agency, the bus was travelling from Sétif when the driver lost control, causing the vehicle to leave the highway and tumble into a deep ravine.

Emergency rescue teams were deployed to the scene, with ambulances transporting the injured to nearby hospitals as rescue operations continued for several hours.

Authorities have not yet established the cause of the crash, and an investigation is underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Algerian Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb visited the crash site to assess the situation and meet with emergency personnel coordinating the rescue operation.

In response to the tragedy, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune declared three days of national mourning in honour of those who lost their lives.

The latest crash is the latest in a string of fatal road accidents that have raised concerns about road safety in Algeria.

In August 2025, at least 18 people were killed and 21 others injured after a public transport bus crashed through a bridge barrier in Algiers and plunged into a river.

Months later, another bus accident in the southern Bechar region claimed the lives of 14 passengers after the vehicle overturned.

Official statistics indicate that 3,838 people were killed and more than 37,000 others injured in road traffic accidents across Algeria in 2025, underscoring the country’s persistent road safety challenges.