At least 50 people died from thirst after a truck carrying passengers broke down in the Sahara Desert, leaving those on board stranded for days under extreme heat conditions.

The incident occurred near the Assamaka region in northern Niger, an area frequently used by migrants and travelers crossing the desert.

According to local reports, the truck was transporting a group of passengers from Mali when it suffered a mechanical failure in a remote section of the Sahara in northern Niger.

Stranded in scorching temperatures and unable to reach water sources, passengers reportedly exhausted their drinking supplies within a short period.

Survivors said two people managed to walk more than 50 kilometers in search of help and eventually reached populated areas, allowing authorities to be alerted to the situation.

Rescue teams dispatched to the area later recovered at least 50 bodies from the site.

Authorities said those who died were buried in mass graves due to conditions in the region and the scale of the tragedy.

Officials also reported discovering another disabled truck in the same area at a later stage, with approximately 60 people rescued and transferred to safer locations.

The incident has once again highlighted the dangers faced by migrants and long-distance travelers crossing the Sahara, where extreme temperatures, scarce water resources, and vast distances between settlements can quickly turn vehicle breakdowns into life-threatening emergencies. (ILKHA)