Forty-nine people lost their lives from dehydration in Niger after the truck transporting them became stranded in a remote section of the Sahara Desert, leaving passengers without access to water. Two survivors managed to walk approximately 50 kilometres across the harsh desert terrain to reach a water source before continuing to the town of Assamaka, where they alerted local authorities.
Authorities in Niger confirmed on Thursday that 49 people died of thirst in an isolated desert region after the vehicle carrying them suffered a mechanical failure.
According to a statement issued by the Agadez governorate on Facebook, the victims were part of a group travelling back from Mali after attending a Muslim religious celebration when they exhausted their water supplies.
The governorate reported that the victims “died of thirst in a remote area located more than 80 kilometres (50 miles) west of Assamaka.” Assamaka serves as a key border crossing between Niger and Algeria and is situated near the frontier with Mali.
The statement explained that the passengers found themselves trapped after the vehicle became inoperable. Despite repeated efforts by the driver, his assistants, and the passengers to repair the truck, they were unable to restore it to working condition.
“Without water and unable to repair the vehicle despite the efforts of the driver, his assistants and the passengers, the travellers became stranded in the middle of a hostile environment where extreme temperatures and the absence of supply points make survival exceptionally difficult,” the governorate stated.
Officials further confirmed that the deceased were subsequently buried in mass graves.
Two members of the group, however, survived the ordeal. According to authorities, they walked more than 50 kilometres through the desert to reach a nearby water source before continuing their journey to Assamaka. Upon arrival, they were able to inform local authorities about the tragedy and the location of the stranded travellers.
The desert region where the incident occurred is widely known as a major transit route used by migrants travelling from various African countries in the hope of reaching Europe. Over the years, numerous people attempting the journey have died from dehydration, hunger, and exposure to the extreme conditions of the Sahara Desert.