The deadly Cape Verde school bus crash happened on Fogo Island, one of the islands that make up the West African country of Cape Verde.
The bus went off a mountainous road in the Campanas de Cima area while returning from an excursion to Chã das Caldeiras, a village inside the crater of the Pico do Fogo volcano.
Here is where the crash happened and where the group had been traveling.
Where Did the Cape Verde School Bus Crash Happen?
The bus crashed on a mountain road on Fogo Island in Cape Verde.
The accident occurred in the Campanas de Cima area in the northern part of the island.
The bus left the road and plunged approximately 30 meters into a steep ravine.
The rocky terrain around the crash site made it difficult for emergency personnel to reach the wreckage and rescue victims.
Where Is Fogo Island?
Fogo Island is part of Cape Verde, an island country in the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of Africa.
Fogo is one of the country’s volcanic islands and is home to Pico do Fogo, an active volcano and the highest point in Cape Verde.
The island includes the city of São Filipe as well as communities and mountain routes surrounding the volcano.
The September 5 bus crash occurred in the mountainous northern part of Fogo.
Where Had the Bus Been Before the Crash?
The group had been on an excursion to Chã das Caldeiras before the crash.
Chã das Caldeiras is a village located inside the large volcanic crater surrounding Pico do Fogo.
The passengers were returning from the excursion when the accident occurred.
Local education officials said the outing was not organized by the schools. It was an annual excursion privately arranged by the bus driver for students he transported during the school year.
Where Is Chã das Caldeiras?
Chã das Caldeiras is a village located inside the crater area of the Pico do Fogo volcano on Fogo Island.
The settlement lies within the volcanic landscape surrounding Pico do Fogo and is one of the best-known areas on the island.
The group involved in the crash had visited Chã das Caldeiras and was traveling away from the area when the bus left the road.
Was the Bus Returning to São Filipe?
Yes. Reports say the bus was returning toward São Filipe after the excursion to Chã das Caldeiras.
São Filipe is the main city on Fogo Island.
During the return journey, the bus was traveling through the mountainous Campanas de Cima area when it went off the road.
What Is the Campanas de Cima Route?
Campanas de Cima is the mountainous area of Fogo Island where the bus crash occurred.
Reports place the accident on a mountain road in this area as the bus traveled back from the excursion.
The vehicle went off the road and fell approximately 30 meters into a ravine below.
The difficult terrain also complicated the emergency response, with rescuers working to reach victims in the rocky valley.
How Far Did the Bus Fall?
The bus plunged approximately 30 meters, or about 100 feet, into a ravine after leaving the road.
Emergency crews faced difficult conditions because the wreckage came to rest in rocky terrain below the roadway.
Rescue personnel worked through the night to reach victims trapped in and around the vehicle.
Is Fogo Island in Africa?
Yes. Fogo Island is part of Cape Verde, an African island nation located in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of West Africa.
Cape Verde, also known officially as Cabo Verde, is an archipelago made up of multiple islands.
Fogo is one of those islands and lies several hundred kilometers off the African mainland.
The location is important because international reports describing the accident as the “Cape Verde bus crash” are referring to the country, while Fogo Island is the specific island where the crash occurred.
Quick Answer
The Cape Verde school bus crash happened on Fogo Island, on a mountainous road in the Campanas de Cima area.
The bus had been returning from an excursion to Chã das Caldeiras, a village inside the crater area of Pico do Fogo, and was heading toward São Filipe.
The vehicle left the road and plunged approximately 30 meters into a steep ravine. The difficult rocky terrain made the rescue operation particularly challenging.