Bus accident kills 18 in Algeria

On August 15, a passenger bus veered off a bridge and fell into the Oued El Harrach streambed at around 5:45 p.m. local time, killing 18 people and injuring 24 others, including two in critical condition, Algeria’s Civil Protection agency reported. Emergency teams deployed 25 ambulances, 16 divers, and four semi-rigid boats to carry out rescue operations, while civilians helped extract victims from the partially submerged vehicle.

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune declared a one-day national mourning starting Friday evening and ordered the national flag to be flown at half-mast. The cause of the accident is under investigation.