49 Die Of Thirst In Niger Republic’s Sahara Desert

At least 49 people have died of thirst in a remote part of the Sahara Desert in Niger Republic after the vehicle transporting them broke down.

Officials in Agadez said the victims were among a group returning from Mali, where they had attended a Muslim religious gathering. The travellers reportedly exhausted their water supply after becoming stranded in the desert.

The incident occurred more than 80 kilometres west of Assamaka, near Niger’s border with Algeria and close to Mali.

Officials explained that the passengers were trapped in harsh desert conditions with no access to water or nearby rescue points, while extreme temperatures further worsened their situation.

Efforts by the driver, his assistants and other passengers to repair the vehicle proved unsuccessful, leaving the group stranded for days.

Authorities said the deceased were later buried in a mass grave.

Two survivors reportedly managed to walk more than 50 kilometres in search of water before reaching Assamaka, where they alerted officials to the tragedy.

The Sahara Desert corridor is widely known as a major migration route used by people seeking to travel from Africa to Europe. Over the years, numerous migrants have lost their lives along the route due to dehydration, hunger and exposure to extreme weather conditions.