MADRID, 16 (EUROPA PRESS)
At least 18 people were killed and 24 injured on Friday after a passenger bus fell into the Oued El Harrach River in the Algerian capital, Algiers, after going off a bridge.
The accident occurred at 5:46 p.m. on Friday (local time), and emergency services were dispatched to the scene to carry out rescue operations and monitor the area, with the goal of treating the injured and identifying any other possible victims. Two of the injured were in critical condition and had to be taken to the nearest hospital, according to the official APS news agency.
Algerian Interior Minister Brahim Mared told the media that "the emergency and rescue plan was activated with complete effectiveness" and maintained that "all those involved fulfilled their duty thanks to the availability of the necessary resources for the execution of this plan."
For his part, Algerian President Abdelmayid Tebune has declared this Saturday a day of national mourning in solidarity with the victims, and flags will be flown at half-mast on all institutional buildings.
Authorities have assured that they are focused on the recovery of the injured and have expressed their condolences to the deceased. "I pray that God grants mercy to the victims, their families and loved ones, patience and comfort, as well as a speedy recovery to the injured," said the president of the Algerian National People's Assembly, Brahim Boughali.