At least 25 people were killed after a school bus carrying mostly teenagers plunged about 100 feet into a rocky ravine during a field trip.
The crash happened at around 9 p.m. on Saturday, September 13. The bus was returning from a field trip when it left the road and fell into the ravine. There were an estimated 30 people aboard at the time, including students and the driver.
Local authorities confirmed that 25 people died in the crash, including the bus driver. Several other passengers were injured and taken to a regional hospital, with four reportedly in serious condition.
Rescue teams faced difficult conditions at the scene. The rocky terrain made it challenging to reach the wreckage, while some passengers were reportedly thrown from the bus and others remained trapped inside. Emergency crews continued working through the area as they searched for survivors and recovered victims.
The students had been returning from a field trip in Chã das Caldeiras. Reports said the outing had been organized by the bus driver, who was also among those killed in the crash. Authorities have not yet established what caused the vehicle to leave the road.
The scale of the tragedy has left the local community in mourning. Municipal authorities declared two days of national mourning, while officials offered condolences to the families, classmates, teachers and others affected by the crash.
President José Maria Neves described the incident as a “great catastrophe” and expressed sympathy for those who lost loved ones. Rescue and recovery operations continued as authorities worked to account for everyone who had been on the bus.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Officials have not yet released a final explanation for why the bus plunged into the ravine, leaving families and the community waiting for answers.