Image: La Provence X @laprovence
By Open Chronicle with agencies
At least 49 people have died of thirst after a truck carrying passengers across the Sahara Desert broke down in northern Niger, leaving dozens stranded for days in one of the world’s harshest environments, authorities said on Friday.
The victims, all Nigerien nationals, were returning home from a religious festival in neighboring Mali when their vehicle became immobilized more than 80 kilometers west of Assamaka, a remote settlement near Niger’s borders with Mali and Algeria.
According to officials in the Agadez region, two men survived the ordeal after undertaking a desperate journey across the desert. The pair reportedly walked more than 50 kilometers to reach a water source before continuing to Assamaka, where they alerted authorities to the tragedy.
A delegation dispatched to investigate the incident found a devastating scene. Authorities said the truck had been traveling for several days from the Malian town of Talhandek, located roughly 300 kilometers from the Nigerien border. It remains unclear what caused the vehicle to break down or how long the passengers remained stranded before succumbing to dehydration.
Officials described discovering dozens of bodies beneath and around the stationary vehicle. Photographs released by regional authorities showed personal belongings and clothing scattered across the desert landscape alongside the victims.
“Deprived of water and unable to repair the vehicle despite the efforts of the driver, his assistant, 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 Agadez governorate said in a statement.
The Sahara region of northern Niger is known for its extreme heat and harsh conditions, where daytime temperatures can soar above 45 degrees Celsius during parts of the year. Limited infrastructure and vast distances between settlements often make rescue operations challenging.
Authorities said the victims were buried in mass graves at the site of the tragedy. The operation was described as a particularly delicate and emotionally exhausting task for the survivors and rescue teams involved.
The incident highlights the dangers faced by people traveling across remote desert routes in the Sahel region, where mechanical failures, extreme weather conditions, and limited access to water can quickly become life-threatening.
An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the breakdown is expected to continue.