Dozens Die in Sahara After Truck Breaks Down

Nearly 50 people have died of thirst in the Sahara desert after a truck carrying Niger nationals from Mali to their homeland broke down in a remote area near the Mali-Algeria border, local authorities in the Nigerien region of Agadez have announced.

According to the regional governor, the vehicle became lost and subsequently broke down, leaving passengers without water in extreme temperatures with no means of repair and little chance of survival.

Two survivors walked dozens of kilometers to reach the nearest town and summon help. Rescuers found the bodies of 49 victims under and around the stationary vehicle. The dead were buried in mass graves at the scene.

Separately, rescuers also assisted another truck that had been stranded for three days with more than 60 people on board after a battery failure.

Young Nigeriens often travel to Mali for work, despite risks that include the activities of armed groups in the region.

(reuters, bak)