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Algeria civil defence recovers body of 10-year-old boy from well
Confirmed
In Short: A 10-year-old boy died after falling into a dry well in Algeria's western province of el-Bayadh, prompting a four-day rescue operation that drew national attention.
A 10-year-old boy named Ayoub tragically died after falling into a dry well in Algeria's western province of el-Bayadh, according to reports. The well, which was about 80 meters deep and 40 centimeters in diameter, claimed the boy's life on Wednesday while he was walking home in the village of Errokn, in the municipality of Ghassoul.
Rescue teams were unable to descend into the well due to its narrow size, so they dug a parallel shaft to reach Ayoub through a horizontal passage. The operation, which involved the mobilization of all available human and material resources, continued for several days. Large crowds of residents gathered near the site to follow the operation and offer support to the family.
The rescue effort, led by the Algerian civil protection agency, involved civil protection, security, and military personnel. A crisis response unit was formed under the provincial governor, Noureddine Belarbi, to coordinate the operation. Eyewitnesses reported that the well had been covered but its lining had eroded over time, leading to the tragic accident.
Ayoub's death has reignited public debate in Algeria over the safety of unsecured wells in rural areas. Commentators have questioned the lack of regulation covering such structures, particularly in isolated regions. The incident has highlighted the need for better safety measures and regulations to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The parallel excavation was completed around midnight between Friday and Saturday, after which a Civil Protection officer descended to begin digging a horizontal tunnel toward the location where Ayoub was believed to be trapped. Despite the efforts, the operation ended in tragedy on Saturday when rescuers recovered Ayoub's body.
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- He stepped on a wooden board covering the well opening, which gave way beneath him, and he plunged into the shaft, which was about 80 metres (262 feet) deep and 40cm (15.75 inches) in diameter.
- Ayoub’s father told media that the boy fell through a rotten piece of wood covering the well.
- Algeria’s Civil Protection announced Saturday evening that rescuers had located the boy and recovered him dead, bringing an end to an operation that had drawn widespread attention across the country and beyond.
- "The rescue operation began in two ways: with the discovery of a parallel vertical shaft and through a large-scale excavation carried out by the rescue teams to reach the victim," Nassim Bernaoui, spokesperson for the Algerian Civil Defense, told reporters.