The deadly bus crash on Cape Verde’s Fogo Island involved a group of children and teenagers returning from an annual excursion on September 5, 2026.
As reports emerged after the crash, casualty and hospital figures changed over time, creating some confusion about how many people were on the bus, how many survived, and how many were injured.
Here is what the latest reporting confirms about the passengers and survivors.
How Many People Were on the Cape Verde Bus?
The bus was reported to be carrying 32 people.
Many of those aboard were children and teenagers taking part in an annual excursion organized privately by the bus driver.
The group had visited Chã das Caldeiras, inside the crater area of the Pico do Fogo volcano, and was returning toward São Filipe when the bus left the mountainous Campanas de Cima route and plunged into a ravine.
The excursion was not organized by the students’ schools.
How Many People Died in the Cape Verde Bus Crash?
At least 25 people were reported killed in the Fogo Island bus crash.
Most of the victims were children and teenagers, according to reports from Cape Verde and international news organizations.
The bus driver, who organized the annual excursion, was also reported among those killed.
The death toll increased during the hours after the crash as authorities and emergency crews worked at the difficult-to-access site.
Were There Survivors of the Cape Verde Bus Crash?
Yes. There were survivors of the Cape Verde bus crash, and several injured passengers received hospital treatment.
However, reports published at different stages after the accident have provided different figures for the number of people being treated.
An earlier report said 19 injured people had been taken to São Francisco de Assis Regional Hospital, including four in serious condition.
Later on September 6, a doctor at the regional hospital told public television that 12 people were still receiving treatment, two of them in serious condition.
These figures should not automatically be interpreted as contradictory. They describe the situation at different times as patients were assessed and treated.
How Many People Were Injured?
Several passengers were injured, but there is not yet one clear final injury total that can safely be treated as definitive.
Initial reports described multiple injured passengers, including some with serious injuries.
People reported that 19 injured people were taken to São Francisco de Assis Regional Hospital and that four were in serious condition.
Later reporting said 12 people remained under treatment at the hospital, including two in serious condition.
For that reason, the most accurate description at this stage is that multiple people survived with injuries, some serious, while the medical situation continued to develop.
Where Were the Injured Passengers Taken?
Injured passengers were taken to São Francisco de Assis Regional Hospital on Fogo Island.
Emergency teams worked through the night following the crash, which occurred in a remote and rocky area that was difficult for rescuers to access.
Some victims were trapped in the wreckage, making the rescue operation particularly difficult.
Medical teams at the regional hospital continued treating survivors on September 6.
Were Most of the Passengers Children?
Many of the people aboard were children and teenagers, including primary and secondary school students.
The passengers included students from the Curral Grande and Ponta Verde areas who were taking part in an annual excursion.
Although the accident has frequently been described as a school bus crash, education officials said the excursion itself was not organized by the schools.
The driver privately organized the outing for pupils he transported during the school year.
Why Do Some Reports Give Different Casualty Numbers?
The reported numbers changed as authorities recovered victims, treated survivors, and updated information following the crash.
Early reports gave lower death tolls before later reporting put the number of people killed at at least 25.
Hospital figures also changed. The number of people initially transported for treatment is not necessarily the same as the number who remained hospitalized later.
For a developing mass-casualty event, the publication time of each figure therefore matters.
What Is the Latest Confirmed Information?
As of September 6, 2026, reliable reporting supports the following:
- The bus was reported to be carrying 32 people.
- At least 25 people were reported killed.
- Many of the victims were children and teenagers.
- The bus driver was among those reported killed.
- Multiple passengers survived and were injured.
- Earlier reporting said 19 injured people were taken to the regional hospital, with four in serious condition.
- Later reporting said 12 patients remained under treatment, with two in serious condition.
- Authorities and medical personnel continued responding to the aftermath of the crash.
Quick Answer
The Cape Verde bus was reported to be carrying 32 people when it crashed on Fogo Island on September 5, 2026. At least 25 people were killed, while several others survived with injuries.
Many of the passengers were children and teenagers returning from an excursion to Chã das Caldeiras.
Reports published at different times have given different hospital figures. Earlier reporting said 19 injured people were taken to São Francisco de Assis Regional Hospital, including four in serious condition, while a later hospital update said 12 people remained under treatment and two were in serious condition.
For that reason, the number of injured people still receiving treatment should be understood as a developing figure rather than a fixed final total.