Senegal: At least 40 people were killed and dozens injured in a bus crash in central Senegal, the country’s president said on Sunday. President Macky Sall said in a tweet that the accident occurred at about 3:30 a.m. in the village of Ganiwi in the Kafrin region.
“I am deeply saddened by the tragic road accident that took place in Ganibee today in which 40 people died and many were seriously injured. I express my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and wish the injured a speedy recovery I do
He announced three days of mourning starting Monday and said he would organize an inter-ministerial council to discuss road safety measures.
Public prosecutor Sheikh Dieng said the accident occurred on National Road No. 1 when a public bus’s tire got punctured and it overturned after hitting another bus coming from the opposite direction.
He said at least 78 people were injured, some of whom were in critical condition.
Pictures of the accident on social media showed damaged buses colliding with each other and debris piling up on the side of the road.
Locals say motor accidents regularly happen in the West African country because of bad roads, bad cars and drivers not following rules.
In 2017, at least 25 people were killed when two buses also met with an accident. Many of them were on their way to the central city of Tauba for the annual Muslim pilgrimage.
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