At least 49 dead in Sahara Desert after truck breaks down, stranding migrants without water

At least 49 people have died in the middle of Africa's Sahara Desert after a truck broke down and left them stranded with no water and no way to call for help.

Rescuers found the bodies of 49 migrants in a desert area more than 80 kilometers from Assamaka, Niger, according to foreign media reports including The Sun published Friday.

The victims had been returning from Mali after attending Eid al-Adha celebrations for the Islamic holiday. The truck departed from the village of Telhandek in Mali but veered off its planned route, leaving passengers stranded in a remote stretch of desert along the dangerous tri-border zone between Algeria, Niger and Mali.

For several days, the driver and passengers desperately tried to repair the vehicle but failed. Water ran out quickly in the scorching heat, and there was no mobile phone signal.

Two members of the group set out on foot across the desert to seek help. After walking dozens of kilometers, they barely reached Assamaka and alerted authorities.

But when rescuers arrived, it was already too late. At least 49 bodies were recovered at the scene, and authorities had no choice but to bury the dead on site. The truck is believed to have been carrying around 100 passengers, raising the possibility that the death toll could rise.

The incident came to light only because two survivors walked out of the desert and reached authorities. All of the victims were confirmed to be Nigerien nationals.

The governor of Niger's Agadez region said in a statement that "with water exhausted and the vehicle beyond repair, most did not survive," adding that dozens of bodies were found beneath and around the truck.