At least 49 people have lost their lives after becoming stranded in a remote section of the Sahara Desert in Niger when the truck transporting them reportedly developed a mechanical fault, authorities have said.
The victims were said to be among a group travelling from Mali to celebrate a Muslim festival when their journey turned tragic after they ran out of drinking water in the harsh desert terrain.
In a statement issued by the authorities in the Agadez Region, the travellers were reported to have died from dehydration in an isolated area located more than 80 kilometres from Assamaka, a key border town near Algeria and close to the Malian frontier.
Officials said efforts by the driver, his assistants and passengers to repair the faulty truck proved unsuccessful, leaving the group stranded in an unforgiving environment characterised by extreme temperatures and a lack of access to water or emergency supplies.
According to the authorities, the victims were trapped for days without assistance, eventually succumbing to thirst. The bodies were later recovered and buried in mass graves.
Despite the tragedy, two members of the group survived the ordeal.
Authorities said the pair managed to trek more than 50 kilometres to reach a water source before continuing to Assamaka, where they alerted local officials about the incident.
The Sahara corridor through northern Niger has long been recognised as a major transit route for migrants and travellers moving across Africa towards North Africa and Europe.
Humanitarian organisations have repeatedly warned of the dangers associated with crossing the desert, where travellers often face life-threatening conditions, including extreme heat, dehydration, hunger and vehicle breakdowns.
The latest incident highlights the persistent risks confronting people undertaking journeys through one of the world’s most hostile environments.