At least 49 people have died of thirst in a remote section of the Sahara Desert in Niger after the truck conveying them broke down, authorities have confirmed.
The victims were part of a group travelling back from Mali for a Muslim festival when their journey turned deadly after they ran out of water in the harsh desert environment, according to the Agadez governorate.
In a statement posted on Facebook, the governorate said the tragedy occurred in an isolated area more than 80 kilometres (50 miles) west of Assamaka, a key border crossing point between Niger and Algeria, close to the Mali frontier.
The statement described the conditions faced by the stranded travellers, noting that survival became impossible after the vehicle failed and help could not be reached in time.
“Deprived of water and unable to repair the vehicle despite the efforts of the driver, his assistants and the passengers, the travellers found themselves trapped in the heart of a hostile environment where extreme temperatures and the absence of supply points make survival extremely difficult,” the governorate said.
It added that the victims were later buried in mass graves following recovery efforts in the remote desert location.
However, two individuals survived the ordeal after trekking more than 50 kilometres on foot to locate a water source. They later reached Assamaka, where they alerted authorities about the incident.
The Agadez governorate said the desert region remains one of the most dangerous transit routes in the Sahara, frequently used by migrants moving across West Africa toward North Africa and Europe.
It noted that many travellers have previously died in similar circumstances due to dehydration, starvation, and extreme heat while crossing the vast desert terrain.
