Around 50 people have died from dehydration in the Sahara Desert.
A truck broke down in the desert. The vehicle was carrying Nigerien citizens who had traveled to Mali for Eid al-Adha and were returning from there.
At least 49 people have died after a truck broke down in the Sahara Desert in northern Niger. BBC reported this.
According to local authorities, the victims suffered from dehydration over a prolonged period. The incident occurred with Nigerien citizens who had traveled to Mali for the Eid al-Adha holiday and were returning from there.
The truck carrying them broke down at a distance of over 80 kilometers from the Assamaka border crossing point between Niger and Algeria.
The governor of the Agadez region stated that the passengers were stranded in an area with extremely high temperatures and no available water sources. The driver and passengers attempted to repair the vehicle for several days but were unable to do so.
As a result, most of the passengers died from dehydration. Rescuers found dozens of bodies under and around the truck. All of the deceased were Nigerien citizens and were buried in mass graves.
Only two people survived the tragedy. They walked to Assamaka and reported the incident to the authorities.
While returning from the scene, the rescue team identified another broken-down truck. More than 60 people on board had been stranded in the desert for three days due to a battery malfunction. Rescuers provided them with water and helped repair the vehicle.
Experts emphasize that the Niger desert remains one of the main transit routes for migrants heading from West Africa to Europe, but this route is associated with great dangers.
