Algiers: 18 killed after bus falls into Oued El Harrach river
ALGIERS, Aug. 16 (YPA) – At least eighteen people were killed and nine others injured on Friday following the fall of a passenger bus into Oued El Harrach river, in Algiers, after skidding off a bridge, according to the Algerian Civil Protection services.
The accident occurred in the El Harrach district around 6 p.m. on the bridge connecting El Khrouba and El Harrach.
The Civil Protection services reported deploying 25 ambulances, 16 divers, and 4 semi-inflatable boats.
Search and rescue operations are still underway amid fears that the death toll could rise.
Video clips circulating on social media show large crowds gathered, watching divers carry out rescue operations in the middle of the water. The exact cause of the accident remains unknown, although bridges are typically equipped with safety barriers designed to prevent vehicles from falling in such situations.
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