Mandated by the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, the Minister of the Interior, Local Authorities, and Transport, Saïd Sayoud, and the Minister of Health, Mohamed Seddik Aït Messaoudene, closely monitored the care of the victims and the assessment of the scale of the tragedy following the overturning of a passenger bus operating the Bechar–Tindouf route, which claimed the lives of 14 people and injured 34, according to the latest official report.
The government delegation, upon arriving in the Bechar province the evening before last, immediately began a tour of hospital facilities where the injured were admitted. On behalf of the government, Messrs. Sayoud and Aït Messaoudene offered their deepest condolences to the bereaved families and wished a speedy recovery to all the injured. The two ministers also assured the full commitment of the State to mobilize all necessary resources, whether medical, psychological, or logistical, to treat, support, and assist those affected.
At the Tourabi-Boudjemaa Public Hospital, the two ministers were informed about the health progress of the six victims evacuated in the first hours by Civil Protection. Medical teams detailed the protocols applied, surgical procedures performed, as well as the additional needs for equipment and personnel.
The visit continued at the Dahmani-Slimane Regional Military University Hospital, where four other injured individuals are being treated, including several serious cases requiring intensive care. The joint presence of civil and military authorities enabled immediate coordination among the various actors, particularly regarding possible further transfers to better-equipped facilities.
Following these visits, Mr. Sayoud stated that this mission was part of a direct order from the Head of State “to inquire about the condition of the injured and to monitor the measures taken for their care.” Emphasizing the importance of a quick and rigorous response in such situations, the minister expressed deep emotion at the severity of the tragedy, confessing to being “speechless” at the scenes witnessed.
He also indicated that according to preliminary information collected by competent services, the accident would be due to an excessive speed particularly high, specifying that “early reports show the bus was traveling at over 140 km/h while carrying about fifty passengers.” He added that the vehicle overturned in an isolated area, devoid of obstacles or heavy traffic, currently ruling out the involvement of another vehicle. Furthermore, the Minister of the Interior recalled President Tebboune’s firm intention to fundamentally revise the legislative framework governing road safety. He stressed that “following the tragic accident in Oued El-Harrach, the Head of State instructed the government to conduct a thorough revision of the road code, with a view to issuing a new version.” He added that the text was scheduled to be presented yesterday at 2 p.m. to Parliament, but its examination was postponed either to today or a later date. The objective is to strengthen prevention, toughen penalties for serious violations, improve control measures, modernize the public transport fleet, and establish a citizen culture of caution. However, the minister emphasized that despite the legislative frameworks, “individual responsibility remains essential.”
The Minister of Health, for his part, highlighted the speed and effectiveness of the medical intervention, affirming that “the care is optimal and compliant with the protocols in force for this type of accident.” He also praised exemplary coordination between doctors, paramedics, and Civil Protection teams, which allowed stabilization of several severely injured patients. Mr. Aït Messaoudene added that some patients required urgent transfers to better-equipped facilities. Four of them were evacuated to Algiers by a special air bridge, mobilized to ensure continuity of care in specialized trauma and intensive care services. He also disclosed to present media that one of the most sensitive cases concerns a child who lost both her father and mother in the accident and is now being followed by a multidisciplinary team.
The government delegation then proceeded to the Beni Abbes province to check on the condition of other injured and ensure their treatment conditions in local hospital structures.
Additionally, the Ministry of National Defense (MDN) announced in a statement published this Sunday the emergency evacuation of ten injured persons, six military and four civilians, to the Central Army Hospital of Aïn Naadja. This operation, conducted under the order of Army General Saïd Chanegriha, is part of the broad mobilization of military resources in major accident cases.
To recall, the accident occurred on RN 50 following the skidding and overturning of a passenger transport bus on the Bechar-Tindouf route, 25 km from the Boulaadam area, in the Tabelbella commune, specified the commander of the Beni Abbes National Gendarmerie company. An investigation has been opened by the National Gendarmerie services to determine the exact circumstances of this accident.
It should be noted that the bus operated the route between Bechar and Tindouf, a long and demanding journey, especially on stretches where drivers are tempted to speed due to low traffic density. Investigators are now trying to determine if additional factors (driver fatigue, failure to respect rest times, or mechanical failure) may have contributed to the tragedy.
Beyond the emergency, this tragedy reignites the national debate on road safety, risky behaviors, and the modernization of inter-province transport. It also highlights the importance of reinforced prevention in a country where road accidents continue to claim thousands of lives every year.