President Abdelmadjid Tebboune declares three days of national mourning after a deadly bus crash in Algeria kills at least 25 people.
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune declared three days of national mourning following a passenger bus accident in the El Karma locality of Boumerdes Province. The bus, traveling from Sétif to the capital Algiers, skidded and plunged into a deep ravine, resulting in at least 25 deaths and dozens of injuries. Health Minister Mohamed Seddik Ait Messaoudene reported that the death toll could rise as rescue teams and ambulances transported victims to nearby hospitals. Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb visited the crash site to meet with the injured. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune described the responsible parties for the accident as "road criminals and terrorists," promising that the justice system will crack down on them with an "iron fist" once the investigation is complete. Road safety authorities noted that human factors, such as speeding, are primary causes of traffic accidents in Algeria, where 3,838 people died in road accidents last year. President Mahmoud Abbas of Palestine also extended his condolences to President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and the Algerian people.