A bus on its way to Burkina Faso plunged off a bridge over the Bagoé River near the western town of Kenieba in Mali on Tuesday afternoon at 5 P.M. local time, resulting in the loss of at least 31 lives–with 10 severely injured– as confirmed by Mali’s Ministry of Transport statement.
Among the victims were Malians and individuals from across the West African sub-region.
According to the Ministry, the collision was most likely caused by the driver’s failure to maintain control of the vehicle.
The Ministry’s statement noted the need for pervasive treatment for the victims and urged all drivers to exercise vigilance and responsibility on the roads.
This tragic incident comes just eight days after another mishap in which a bus collided with a truck in the central area of the country, killing 15 people and injuring 46.
Road accidents continue to be a common occurrence in West Africa, owing to overcrowded and inadequately managed public transportation.