At least 49 people died of dehydration in remote Sahara desert area in northern Niger after their truck broke down,stranding them for days. The group was returning from Mali,where they celebrated Eid al-Adha,when water ran out,local authorities said.
Tragedy struck over 80 kilometers (50 miles) west of Assamaka, key crossing between Niger and Algeria,near Mali border . Agadez governorate said travelers were trapped in harsh conditions,with extreme heat and no water making survival almost impossible.
Attempts to fix the vehicle by the driver,assistants and passengers failed. “Deprived of water and unable to repair the vehicle,” governorate noted,they were in dire straits. Rescuers found dozens of bodies near truck and around it. Victims were buried in mass graves.
Amid grim scene,two survived by walking 50 kilometers (31 miles) to find water,reaching nearby town . Agadez Region Governor General Ibra Boulama Issa led delegation to site to assess situation. They learned truck had traveled days from Malian town Talhandek,around 300 kilometers (187 miles) from Niger border.
Exact cause of truck's breakdown unclear,as is how long passengers waited for help. Desert region infamous as perilous route for refugees,migrants trying to reach Europe. Many lost to thirst,starvation in unforgiving sands…
