At least 49 people have died of thirst in a remote part of the Sahara Desert in Niger after the truck transporting them broke down, local authorities have confirmed.
The victims were part of a group travelling back from Mali for a Muslim festival when they became stranded in an isolated desert area and ran out of water.
According to authorities in the Agadez governorate, the tragedy occurred more than 80 kilometres west of Assamaka, a key crossing point between Niger and Algeria that also lies close to the Mali border.
Officials said the travellers were unable to repair the vehicle despite efforts by the driver, his assistants and passengers. With no access to water and surrounded by harsh desert conditions, they became trapped in an area where extreme temperatures and a lack of supply points make survival exceptionally difficult.
The governorate stated that all 49 victims died from dehydration and were later buried in mass graves.
Two people survived the ordeal after walking more than 50 kilometres through the desert to reach a water source. They eventually made their way to Assamaka and alerted authorities to the disaster.
The Sahara route through northern Niger is a well-known transit corridor for migrants and travellers heading towards North Africa and Europe. Over the years, many have lost their lives in the vast desert due to thirst, starvation and exposure to extreme weather conditions.
