Algeria was shaken by grief late Friday after a deadly bus accident in the capital claimed 18 lives and left 10 others injured, according to the country’s Civil Defense Authority.
The tragedy occurred when a passenger bus veered off a bridge and crashed into the Harrach Riverbed in eastern Algiers. Rescue teams rushed to the scene, pulling survivors from the wreckage and transporting them to a nearby hospital, while the deceased were transferred to the city morgue.
Videos circulating on social media captured the chaotic early moments of the accident, showing citizens leaping into the river to rescue trapped passengers before emergency crews arrived. Witnesses described the scene as “horrific,” with cries for help echoing as volunteers and firefighters battled to save lives.
A local resident told Algerian media that the bus was carrying around 35 passengers at the time of the crash, though authorities have not yet confirmed the final number.
The incident sparked an outpouring of sorrow and anger across Algeria. Social media platforms were flooded with messages of condolences for the victims’ families, alongside mounting calls for a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash.
Authorities have yet to issue an official explanation, but road safety remains a growing concern in Algeria, where aging infrastructure and traffic accidents claim hundreds of lives annually.
The Harrach tragedy stands as one of the deadliest transport accidents in the country this year, underscoring the urgent need for stricter safety measures and oversight on public transport.
Meantime, Lieutenant General, Minister Delegate to the Minister of National Defense, Chief of Staff of the National People's Army inspected the injured in the bus accident in Oued El Harrach.
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