Collision of two buses in Senegal leaves at least 40 dead and 78 injured

At least 40 people died this Sunday and 78 were injured by the collision of two buses in Senegalaccording to the authorities, who decreed three days of national mourning.

The accident occurred near the town of Sikilo, in the region of kaffrinemore than 200 kilometers southeast of the capital Dakar, at around 03:30 local time (same GMT) on National Highway 1, reported the Republic Prosecutor’s Office.

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”According to the first elements of the judicial police investigation, a bus assigned to public passenger transport, after a tire burst, left its trajectory before colliding head-on with another bus that was coming from the opposite direction.”, explained the Prosecutor’s Office in a statement.

A general view of the scene of a bus accident in Kaffrine, central Senegal, on January 8, 2023, where at least 38 people were killed and dozens injured when two buses collided. (Photo by Cheikh Dieng / AFP) (CHEIKH DIENG /)

After the serious accident, the Senegalese president, macky salldecree “a three-day national mourning beginning January 9”.

A general view of the scene of a bus accident in Kaffrine, central Senegal, on January 8, 2023, where at least 38 people were killed and dozens injured when two buses collided. (Photo by Cheikh Dieng / AFP) (CHEIKH DIENG /)

”On the same date, an inter-ministerial council will be held to take firm measures on road safety and public passenger transport.”, added Sall on his account on the social network Twitter.

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According to local media, a tire burst on a bus coming from tambacounda (south) bound for Dakar, while the other wrecked vehicle came from the capital and headed for velingara (south).

Source: Elcomercio