Senegal’s Ministry of Land and Air Transport on Tuesday commented on the tragic accident that occurred on Monday, September 9, in the department of Bambey, which left 16 people dead and 36 injured, 24 of them in serious condition.
Twenty people were killed in the road accident in Senegal on Monday, September 9.
According to a press statement from the Ministry of Land and Air Transport, the tragedy occurred near the village of Ndiama Fall in the Diourbel region (centre) and was caused by a violent collision between a lorry transporting goods and a public transport bus.
The initial findings show that the bus, “which was carrying passengers and gas cylinders at the same time and on high speed, made a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre”.
The collision with the lorry caused the bus to catch fire and, despite the rapid intervention of the fire brigade, the human toll was high: ’52 victims, including 16 dead, and 36 injured, 24 of them in serious condition’.
Responding to the tragedy, the minister immediately mobilised a team of senior officials to assist the victims.
According to the statement, the mobilization of specialists and the quality of the infrastructure, particularly in Thiès, the situation of the injured persons was relatively stabilized.
The minister, on behalf of the President of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, and the Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, ‘expresses his sincere condolences to the families and friends of the victims’ and ‘wishes a speedy recovery to the injured’.
This tragic accident once again highlights the dangers of road transport. The Ministry of Transport points out that ‘carelessness, negligence, speeding and failure to observe the basic rules of the Highway Code are recurring causes of fatal accidents’.
The statement added that an investigation is underway to determine who is responsible and to apply the necessary penalties.
Pending the organisation of a general conference on transportation in Senegal, scheduled for the end of the month, the ministry has announced that it is working with other ministries to ‘step up roadside checks and speed up projects on video ticketing and the modernisation of roadworthiness testing centres’.
AC/te/lb/GIK/APA