The victims were part of a group travelling from Mali to Niger to celebrate the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha with their families when they became trapped in the Sahara Desert after their vehicle developed a fault, authorities said.
In a statement posted on Facebook on Friday, the Agadez governorate disclosed that the victims lost their lives in a remote area west of Assamaka, a major border crossing between Niger and Algeria that is also close to the Malian border.
The 49 people “died of thirst in a remote area more than 80km (50 miles) west of Assamaka”, added the statement. Assamaka is a main crossing point between Niger and Algeria but also close to the Mali frontier.
“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,” said the governorate, adding that rescuers buried the victims in mass graves.
Authorities, however, said two passengers survived the ordeal after trekking more than 50 kilometres to locate a water source before continuing to Assamaka, where they alerted officials to the tragedy.
A delegation dispatched by Agadez Region Governor General Ibra Boulama Issa later visited the scene and discovered that the truck had travelled for several days from Talhandek, a town in Mali located about 300 kilometres from the Nigerien border.
Officials have yet to determine the exact cause of the breakdown or how long the passengers remained stranded. Efforts by the driver, his assistants and other passengers to repair the truck were unsuccessful.
“On the spot, the findings were particularly disturbing. Dozens of lifeless bodies were found under the immobile truck and in its surroundings,” the Agadez governorate said.
The desert corridor is widely used by migrants and refugees travelling from different African countries towards Europe. The route has recorded numerous deaths over the years, with many travellers succumbing to thirst, hunger and harsh weather conditions. (AlJazeera)
