At least 49 people have died of thirst after a truck carrying passengers broke down in a remote part of the Sahara Desert in northern Niger, local authorities have reported.
The passengers, all Nigerien nationals, were travelling from Mali after attending a religious festival when their vehicle broke down more than 80 kilometres west of Assamaka, near the Niger–Mali–Algeria border triangle.
According to the Agadez Governorate, the truck had departed from Telhandek in Mali, about 300 kilometres from the Nigerian border, and it is believed the driver lost track in the desert before the truck broke down.
Once the vehicle broke down, passengers were left without water in an isolated desert area, far from any immediate assistance. With extreme temperatures and long distances to the nearest settlements, survival quickly became extremely difficult.
“Dozens of lifeless bodies were found under the immobile truck and in its surroundings,” the Governorate said after a field mission reached the site.
“Deprived of water and unable to repair the vehicle despite the efforts of the driver, his apprentice and passengers, travellers found themselves trapped in the heart of a hostile environment.”
According to authorities, 49 victims were buried in communal graves at the site after recovery efforts were completed. However, two people survived the ordeal, managing to walk more than 50 kilometres across the desert before raising the alarm with authorities in Agadez after reaching Assamaka.
“Mohamed Bachir Souley, from Say, and Issa Omar, from Bourbour Kabé in Niamey, walked more than fifty kilometres before reaching a dam and then reaching Assamaka, where they were able to give the alert,” the Governorate said.
On their way back from the site, the rescue team encountered another disabled truck carrying over 60 passengers who had been stranded for three days after a battery failure.
According to a follow-up statement from Agadez authorities, the vehicle had departed from Harouba in Mali, more than 300 kilometres from the Niger border.
“Taking a different route to reach Assamaka, the mission stumbled upon a stationary truck more than 60 kilometres from the locality. On board, more than 60 people were stranded for three days in the heart of the desert following a battery failure,” authorities said.
The team, which included Nigerien soldiers, provided water to the exhausted passengers and assisted in fixing the truck, enabling them to continue their journey safely.
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