NORTHERN NIGER — At least 49 individuals died from thirst after a truck became inoperable in the Sahara Desert in northern Niger. The group was en route from a religious festival in Mali when the vehicle stopped operating.
The deceased individuals were all citizens of Niger. The truck broke down more than 80 kilometers west of Assamaka, a location situated near the borders with Mali and Algeria. The vehicle had departed from Talhandek, a Malian town approximately 300 kilometers from the border.
Two men survived the incident. They walked more than 50 kilometers to a water source and then continued to Assamaka to alert responders. "On the spot, the findings were particularly disturbing. Dozens of lifeless bodies were found under the immobile truck and in its surroundings." The Agadez region governorate said.
"Deprived of water and unable to repair the vehicle despite the efforts of the driver, his apprentice and passengers, travelers found themselves trapped in the heart of a hostile environment where extreme temperatures and lack of supply points make survival extremely difficult." The governorate said. Rescue personnel buried the remains in communal graves at the breakdown site.
Responders have not determined the mechanical cause of the vehicle's failure or the exact duration the passengers were stranded. Gen. Ibra Boulama Issa, who oversees the Agadez region, coordinated the response delegation. The Niger desert serves as a transit corridor for West African migrants traveling toward Europe.
No independent assessment was available for this report.