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The deceased were part of a group returning from Mali for a Muslim festival when they ran out of water, and repeated attempts to repair the vehicle were unsuccessful.
The desert zone in Niger is a known transit point for migrants seeking to get from African nations to Europe. (AFP)
Almost 50 people died of thirst in an isolated Sahara desert district in Niger after the truck transporting them broke down in a remote area, according to authorities. The deceased were part of a group returning from Mali for a Muslim festival when they ran out of water.
The Agadez governorate said 49 people “died of thirst in a remote area more than 80 kilometres (50 miles) west of Assamaka”, which is the main crossing point between Niger and Algeria.
“Deprived of water and unable to repair the vehicle despite the efforts of the driver, his assistants and the passengers, the travellers found themselves trapped in the heart of a hostile environment where extreme temperatures and the absence of supply points make survival extremely difficult,” the statement added.
Two people managed to survive after walking more than 50 km on foot to a nearby water source and then to Assamaka, where they were able to alert the authorities.
How Did The Truck Break Down?
The lorry carrying the people had departed from the Malian town of Telhandek but veered away from its intended route, the governor’s statement said. The driver and passengers made repeated attempts for several days to repair the vehicle, but their efforts ultimately proved unsuccessful.
“Dozens of lifeless bodies were found under the immobile truck and in its surroundings,” it said. The victims were buried in mass graves by the rescue team dispatched to the area by local authorities, BBC reported.
While returning from the scene, the rescue team said it came across another broken-down lorry carrying more than 60 people, who had been stranded for three days due to a battery failure. The rescue team distributed water to the “exhausted and distressed” travellers and helped repair the vehicle to allow them to safely resume the journey.
The desert zone in Niger is a known transit point for migrants seeking to get from African nations to Europe, and many have died from thirst or starvation in the scorching sands. The governor said the tragedy reflected the “vulnerability of young people engaged in migratory and cross-border economic activities.”
(with inputs from AFP)
About the Author
Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in int…Read More
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