The Ministry of Health confirmed a preliminary death toll of 14, with 54 people injured, 10 critically. A burst tire on the bus is reported to have caused the skid and subsequent rollover.
Following a visit to the accident scene, El Malick Ndiaye, the newly appointed Minister of Land and Air Transport, announced measures to address the high number of road accidents in Senegal. These include a crackdown on drivers placing distracting objects on dashboards, a directive to streamline roadside inspections, and increased enforcement of speed limits.
This accident comes amidst a string of deadly road incidents in Senegal. In March 2024, seven died in a southern region crash. Just a year prior, January 2023, a collision between buses in Kaffrine claimed 40 lives and injured 87. These incidents prompted national mourning and pledges for improved road safety measures.
The National Agency for Road Safety (Anaser) reports a concerning average of 17,000 accidents annually in Senegal, costing the nation 12 billion CFA francs. This translates to a high death rate of 23.4% per 100,000 inhabitants, making Senegal one of the countries worst affected by road accident trauma.
AC/lb/abj/APA