Bus Breaks Down in Sahara Desert, 49 Die After Celebrating Eid al-Adha

At least 49 people have died from thirst in a remote area of the Sahara Desert in northern Niger. Local police stated that the truck they were travelling in broke down, leaving dozens of passengers stranded for several days in the middle of the remote desert.

The Agadez provincial government stated that the victims included a group returning from Mali to celebrate Eid al-Adha with their families in Niger.

“As many as 49 people died from thirst in a remote area more than 80 km west of Assamaka. Due to the lack of water and the inability to repair the vehicle despite efforts by the driver, his assistant, and the passengers, the travellers were trapped amidst hostile natural conditions, where extreme temperatures and the absence of supply points made survival extremely difficult,” the provincial government said, as quoted by Al Jazeera.

However, according to the provincial government, two people managed to survive after walking more than 50 km (31 miles) towards a water source, eventually reaching Assamaka and successfully notifying the authorities.

A delegation sent to the scene by the Governor-General of the Agadez Region, Ibra Boulama Issa, learned that the truck had been travelling for several days from the town of Talhandek in Mali, approximately 300 km from the Niger border.

It remains unclear what caused the truck’s breakdown or exactly how many days the passengers waited. The efforts of the driver, his assistant, and the passengers to repair the truck were unsuccessful.

“At the scene, the findings were horrific. Dozens of bodies were found under and around the stationary truck,” said the Agadez provincial government.

The desert zone is a known transit point for refugees and migrants attempting to travel from African nations to Europe. In this region, many perish from thirst or hunger amidst the intense desert heat.