A passenger bus overturned and fell into a ravine on Friday near the coastal town of Boumerdès, east of Algiers, killing at least 25 people and injuring dozens, according to local officials. The vehicle, travelling from Sétif, left the road on the El Kerma bypass, with the cause of the crash still unknown, the civil protection department said.

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune offered his condolences to the families of the victims, describing the incident as a “tragic traffic accident” and vowing that “justice will strike with an iron fist” after investigations. He decreed a three-day national mourning period, with flags flown at half-mast across the country. Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb, dispatched by the president, visited the injured at hospitals in Algiers and Boumerdès, where he assured families of the state’s full support and the mobilisation of all resources for medical and psychological care.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella sent a message of condolence to President Tebboune, expressing his “deep emotion and profound sadness” and offering the sympathy of the Italian people. He reaffirmed Italy’s solidarity with Algeria during the national mourning.

While the president’s office cited a provisional toll of 25 dead and 44 injured, some local media later reported 27 fatalities. The discrepancy could not immediately be reconciled. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the circumstances of the crash, and the prime minister’s visit underscored the government’s focus on the medical response. No further details on the cause have been released.