At least 27 people were killed and 39 injured when a passenger bus from Sétif to Algiers skidded off the road and fell into a ravine near El Karma, about 50 km from Algiers. Rescue teams and ambulances worked at the scene while authorities warned the toll could rise. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune declared three days of national mourning and promised a strict judicial response, calling the perpetrators "road criminals and terrorists." Investigators are probing why the bus left the road amid long-standing concerns about speeding and human error on Algerian roads.
At Least 27 Killed, 39 Injured After Bus Plunges Into Ravine Near El Karma
A passenger bus that plunged into a river is towed by rescue workers on August 15, 2025 in the El Harrach district of Algiers, Algeria [File: Fateh Guidoum/AP]
A passenger bus traveling from Sétif to the capital, Algiers, skidded off the road and plunged into a deep ravine near El Karma on Friday, killing at least 27 people and injuring 39, authorities said. The crash occurred roughly 50 km (30 miles) from Algiers.
Rescue Efforts
Rescue teams and a steady stream of ambulances worked at the scene, transporting the wounded to nearby hospitals. Health Minister Mohamed Seddik Ait Messaoudene warned that the death toll could rise as emergency crews continued their efforts. Civil Protection said its teams responded at around 09:40 local time (08:40 GMT).
Official Response and Investigation
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune declared three days of national mourning and, in a statement published by his office, called those responsible "road criminals and terrorists." He added that the justice system would "crack down with an iron fist and without any leniency" once the investigation is complete. Ennahar TV reported that Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb visited some of the injured at the University Hospital of Boumerdes.
The Civil Protection agency said the bus left the road for reasons that remain unknown. Algerian road safety authorities have long attributed most fatal crashes to human factors, including speeding.
Context
Official figures for the previous year recorded 3,838 road deaths and more than 37,000 injuries nationwide. Authorities described this as one of the deadliest road accidents in recent years; similar incidents include an August crash near Algiers that killed 18 and injured 21, and a December overturning in the southern region of Béchar that killed 14.
Update: Investigations are ongoing and officials say casualty figures may be revised as rescue and forensic work continues.
Help us improve.
