Forty-nine people have died of thirst in Niger’s Sahara Desert after their truck broke down, according to a statement from the Agadez Governorate posted on Facebook. The victims were returning home after attending a Muslim festival when their vehicle malfunctioned in a remote area more than 80 kilometers west of Assamaka, a key transit point between Niger and Algeria near the Mali border.

The governorate said the truck’s driver, assistant, and passengers tried to repair the vehicle but failed. Stranded in extreme heat without water, they faced severe dehydration that led to their deaths. Two survivors managed to walk over 50 kilometers to reach a water source and alert authorities in Assamaka.

Authorities reported that the deceased were buried in a mass grave. The incident highlights the deadly risks faced by travelers crossing the Sahara’s harsh and isolated terrain.