The body of 10-year-old Ayoub was recovered from an 80-metre-deep well in El-Bayadh after a four-day rescue operation, civil protection authorities said. Rescuers dug a parallel shaft and a horizontal passage because the well was too narrow for descent; alternating layers of loose soil and hard rock slowed the effort. A crisis unit under Governor Noureddine Belarbi coordinated the operation while local residents gathered to support the family. The case has renewed debate in Algeria about the safety and regulation of unsecured rural wells, recalling similar deadly incidents in the region.
10-Year-Old Recovered From 80m Well After Four-Day Rescue in El-Bayadh, Algeria
Rescuers trying to save Ayoub [Courtesy of Bawabat Al-Jazayer]
The body of a 10-year-old boy was recovered from a well in Algeria's western province of El-Bayadh on Saturday, the national civil protection agency said, bringing to a close a four-day rescue operation that had attracted nationwide attention.
What Happened
Officials identified the child as Ayoub. He fell into a dry well on Wednesday while walking home in the village of Errokn, in the Ghassoul municipality. According to authorities, Ayoub stepped on a wooden board covering the well opening; the board gave way and he plunged into a shaft roughly 80 metres (262 feet) deep and about 40 cm (15.75 inches) in diameter.
Rescue Operation
Rescue teams said the well was too narrow for a direct descent, so they excavated a parallel shaft and then dug horizontally to reach the boy. The operation — carried out with heavy machinery and technical experts — lasted several days. Officials said progress was slowed by alternating layers of loose soil and hard rock, which complicated tunnelling and raised safety concerns for the teams involved.
Coordination and Local Response
Authorities in El-Bayadh formed a crisis response unit under provincial governor Noureddine Belarbi. The unit included civil protection personnel, security services and the military to coordinate the operation. Large numbers of local residents gathered near the site over the days of the rescue to follow developments and support the family, while additional civil protection units were deployed as officials described the fourth day as a "decisive" phase.
Broader Concerns
Ayoub’s death has reignited public discussion in Algeria about the dangers posed by unsecured wells in rural and isolated areas and the absence of consistent regulation for such structures. Observers compared the case to past incidents, including a 2018 fall into a 100-metre well in Msila province — where a nine-day rescue recovered the victim’s body — and the high-profile 2022 case in Morocco involving toddler Rayan, who was trapped in a 32-metre well and recovered after more than 100 hours before later being confirmed dead.
Note: Officials have not reported any immediate changes to regulation following the operation, but the tragedy has renewed calls from the public and commentators for better safety measures around rural wells.
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