DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — At least 40 people were killed and dozens injured in a bus crash in central Senegal, the country’s president said Sunday.
President Macky Sall tweeted that the collision took place in the village of Gnivy in the Kaffrine region at around 3:30am.
“I am deeply saddened by today’s tragic road accident in Gniby, which caused 40 deaths and many serious injuries. I express my sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wish a speedy recovery to the injured,” said Sall.
He declared three days of mourning starting Monday and said he would hold a ministerial council to discuss road safety measures.
CHEIKH DIENG via Getty Images
Prosecutor Cheikh Dieng said the accident happened on National Road no. 1, when a public bus burst a tire and veered across the road, colliding with another bus coming from the opposite direction. At least 78 people were injured, some seriously, he said.
Images of the accident on social media showed damaged buses crashing into each other and a trail of debris along the road.
Road accidents occur regularly in the West African country due to bad roads, bad cars and drivers who don’t follow the rules, locals say.
In 2017, at least 25 people died when two buses also collapsed. Many of these people were heading to the central city of Touba for the annual Muslim pilgrimage.
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