Death toll rises to 25 in Cabo Verde bus accident

PRAIA, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from a bus accident on Cabo Verde's Fogo Island has risen to 25, Health Minister Lucio Fernandes confirmed to Xinhua on Sunday.

The accident occurred Saturday evening in a mountainous area in the north of the municipality of Sao Filipe. The bus veered off the road and plunged about 30 meters into a rocky ravine, according to Cabo Verde's national news agency Inforpress.

Most of the passengers were young people and teenagers, including secondary school students from local communities. Several people were injured, and two teenage girls remained in critical condition, Inforpress reported.

Fernandes told Xinhua that a government delegation led by Prime Minister Francisco Carvalho, accompanied by surgeons, orthopedic specialists and psychologists from Praia, would travel immediately to Fogo Island.

President Jose Maria Neves has offered condolences to the bereaved families and wished the injured a speedy recovery. The government has also expressed sympathy to the victims' families and thanked medical workers, rescue teams and residents involved in the emergency response.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the accident.