At Least 18 Dead After Bus Skids Off Bridge and Plunges into River

A routine evening commute turned into a nightmare Friday when a passenger bus in Algiers skidded off a bridge and plunged into the Oued El Harrach river, killing at least 18 people and injuring nine more.

The accident, which unfolded around 5:45 p.m. local time, shocked Algeria and prompted President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to declare a national day of mourning.

“With profound sorrow, I pay tribute to the memory of our fellow citizens who died in this tragic accident,” Tebboune said in a statement. He offered condolences to the grieving families and prayers for the injured, adding that flags would be lowered across the country.

Witnesses described scenes of chaos as the bus tore through the bridge barrier before plunging into the shallow but fast-moving river below. Some residents reportedly jumped into the water, pulling victims from the submerged vehicle before rescue teams arrived.

“It was like watching a movie — the bus just went straight down. People were screaming, diving in to help,” one local resident told Algerian television.

Emergency crews responded with massive force: 25 ambulances, 16 divers, and four rescue boats were deployed. Video shared online showed divers circling the wreck while red rescue boats swarmed the riverbanks. By nightfall, the mangled bus had been pulled from the water, its roof dented and doors ripped apart.

This crash marks one of the deadliest transportation disasters in Algeria in recent years. The country has long battled high rates of road accidents, often blamed on poor infrastructure, reckless driving, and lax enforcement of traffic laws.

Algeria records roughly 3,500 road deaths annually, according to government statistics. Experts warn that crowded public buses, combined with aging roads, make accidents tragically common.

Lieutenant Nasim Bernawi of the Civil Protection Directorate confirmed that two of the injured passengers were initially in critical condition but later stabilized. “All deceased victims have been transferred to the mortuary. The priority now is supporting their families,” he told local reporters.

On Saturday, General Saïd Chanegriha, chief of staff of the Algerian army, personally visited survivors at hospitals across Algiers. His appearance underscored the national significance of the tragedy.

“The Algerian people are united in grief,” one government spokesman told APS, the state press service. “This is a dark day for our nation.”

Authorities have not yet revealed the cause of the crash. Officials say investigators are examining whether speed, mechanical failure, or driver fatigue played a role.

For many Algerians, however, the immediate concern is the haunting loss of life. Social media has been flooded with prayers, candle emojis, and messages demanding better safety measures on the nation’s highways.

As the country lowered its flags in mourning, one grieving relative was quoted in AL24 saying simply: “They left in a bus, and they never came home.”