Cape Verde has begun two days of national mourning following a devastating bus crash on Fogo Island that claimed the lives of 25 people, most of them children and teenagers.

Funeral ceremonies for 18 of the victims were held on Sunday afternoon, while the remaining seven victims were buried earlier in the day. Families, friends and residents gathered across the island to accompany the coffins to their final resting places.

The victims were travelling back to Sao Filipe late on Saturday after a day-long excursion when the bus reportedly veered off the road and plunged into a deep ravine. A total of 32 people were on board at the time of the crash.

The driver was among those who died in the accident. He had reportedly organised the annual outing as a gesture for the schoolchildren he transported to and from school during the academic year.

Emergency responders worked throughout the night to recover passengers trapped inside the wreckage and provide assistance to survivors. As of Sunday, 12 people remained in hospital, with two reported to be in serious condition.

President Jose Maria Neves attended some of the funeral ceremonies and expressed solidarity with the victims' families and the wider community. He has also ordered an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.