Dozens die after bus falls off bridge in Mali

31 people have died in Mali after a bus overturned and plummeted off a bridge on Tuesday. The bus was travelling from the Malian town of Kenieba to neighbouring Burkina Faso when it swerved off the bridge spanning the Bagoe River. At least ten individuals sustained injuries, with some in critical condition.

Local authorities said the accident was due to “the driver’s failure to control the vehicle.” The incident occurred around 17:00 local time (17:00 GMT). 

The Ministry of Transport released a statement confirming that the victims included both Malians and individuals from other West African regions.

Mali frequently experiences road accidents due to substandard road conditions, vehicle maintenance issues, overloading, and inadequate regulation of public transportation. 

Just earlier this month, AFP news agency reported another tragic incident where fifteen people lost their lives and forty-six were injured in a collision between a bus and a truck en route to the capital, Bamako.