A heartbreaking tragedy has unfolded in Niger, where at least 49 people died of thirst after their truck broke down in the Sahara Desert.
According to The Independent, the victims, all Nigerien nationals, were returning from a religious festival in neighbouring Mali when their vehicle became stranded near the borders with Algeria and Mali. With no water and no way to repair the truck, the passengers were trapped for days in extreme desert conditions.
Two survivors managed to walk more than 50 kilometres in search of help before alerting authorities. Rescue teams later discovered dozens of bodies around the immobilised vehicle.
Officials described the recovery operation as emotionally draining, with victims buried in mass graves. Authorities are still investigating what caused the breakdown.
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