A tragic accident claimed the lives of at least 18 people and left nine others injured when a bus plunged from a bridge into a river, having swerved off the road.

Emergency services were alerted late Friday afternoon in the Mohammadia district of east Algeria, responding to the shocking accident.

Those injured were quickly transported to a nearby hospital where they received urgent care for life-threatening conditions.

Civil Protection teams worked late into the night to recover bodies as investigators scrutinized the scene for details of the incident.

According to local reports, some residents bravely leaped into the gorge to aid in the rescue efforts before the arrival of Civil Defense teams.

Video footage captured numerous emergency vehicles gathered around the scene as rescue workers searched the river for more victims.

Meanwhile, rescue teams are seen carrying parts of the dismembered bus out of the water.

Officials have not yet determined the cause of the crash.

Road accidents are common in Algeria due to poor conditions, speeding and mechanical failures often leading to fatal incidents.

In 2023, a terrifying bus crash killed at least 34 people and injured 12 after a horror collision.

The bus crashed into a commercial vehicle and burst into a blaze of flames on a highway in Algeria.

The collision led to another bus and car catching alight, authorities in the region confirmed.