Thirteen people lost their lives and 45 others were injured in a tragic road accident in northern Ivory Coast, after a tanker truck collided with a bus, according to rescuers and local media reports on Saturday.
The accident occurred on Friday night when a bus carrying passengers collided with a petrol-filled tanker truck on the opposite lane. The crash took place on a stretch of highway between Bouake and Korhogo, where the road had been narrowed due to a freight truck parked without proper indicators, as reported by Police Secours, a platform that monitors deadly accidents in the country.
The collision, which occurred around 2300 GMT, triggered a fire of intense magnitude, leaving “13 bodies charred” at the scene, according to Police Secours.
The Ivorian Press Agency (AIP) confirmed the casualty figures, noting that among the injured were 19 children, who were immediately transported to hospitals in the nearby cities of Katiola and Niakara.
Road accidents are a frequent occurrence in Ivory Coast, often attributed to poorly maintained roads and vehicles, as well as reckless driving. In response to the high rate of accidents, the country introduced a point-based driver’s license system in 2023, which allocates 12 points to each driver that can be deducted for traffic violations.
Additionally, Ivorian authorities have installed cameras on major roads to enforce traffic regulations and fine offenders. Despite these measures, between 1,000 and 1,500 people lose their lives in road accidents annually, according to the transport ministry.
