49 pilgrims die of thirst after vehicle stranded in desert

©Morten Oddvik via Unsplash

Tragic news reaches us from the border region between Algeria, Niger and Mali. 49 pilgrims have died there after their vehicle stalled in a remote part of the Sahel desert. They could not be helped immediately and died of dehydration in the extreme heat.

The vehicle broke down in a desert area more than 80 kilometers west of Assamaka. The occupants were on their way home from Mali after an Islamic festival. When police and emergency services on the scene discovered the stranded bus, 49 occupants were found dead. The heat and lack of drinking water caused their death. Two passengers decided to look for help and hiked as much as 50 kilometers to a watering hole. They survived their trek.

It is unclear for now exactly what went wrong with the vehicle. When emergency services arrived on the scene, they came across another group of people in distress who were boarded on a truck. There were 60 people on board. They were in bad shape due to the extreme heat, but were able to be rescued. Their vehicle had been stationary in the desert for three days due to a faulty battery. After technical assistance, the travelers were able to continue on their journey.

The desert area where the rescue operations took place is known as a zone through which refugees are smuggled. Through this remote part of the Sahel Desert between Niger, Mali and Algeria, they make their way to North Africa. In these extreme weather conditions, things often go wrong. According to the NGO Alarme Phone Sahara, at least 35 migrants died in the Niger desert just last year.

©Morten Oddvik via Unsplash - illustration image of the Sahel