Rescue teams race to save boy trapped in Algerian well amid tough conditions

Algerian civil defense teams continued excavation efforts on Saturday to rescue 10-year-old Ayoub, who fell into a dry artesian well in El Bayadh province, southwestern Algeria.

The rescue operation has entered its fourth consecutive day, with authorities on high alert as they strive to reach and extract the boy from the well.

Additional civil defense personnel have been deployed to the site, where a team member descended into the well to begin the rescue after more than 30 hours of continuous work.

Rescuers have faced major challenges due to the well’s depth—around 80 meters—and its narrow diameter of just 40 centimeters, which has prevented direct access.

The boy’s father explained that the wooden cover of the well was fragile and broke when Ayoub stepped on it while trying to fetch a bottle of water for his brother, causing him to fall.

He added that Ayoub called out, "Dad, get me out," before his voice faded after rescuers sent a flashlight down to him.

The rescue operation has reached an advanced stage, with civil defense personnel entering a parallel shaft dug alongside the original well and beginning work to create a horizontal passage toward the boy’s location.

Teams are working cautiously due to hard rock layers and unstable soil, which require careful handling to prevent any collapse that could endanger the boy or rescuers.

As of Saturday morning, Ayoub’s fate remains unknown, while medical teams and an ambulance are on standby at the scene to intervene as soon as he is rescued.