Sixteen people were killed and 48 injured, six seriously, when two buses collided in central Mali, the transport ministry said Friday in a statement seen by AFP.

"A traffic accident occurred this Thursday, July 25, around 8:30 am (0830 GMT), at Ouan in San region," the ministry stated, saying the two vehicles were involved in a "frontal collision."

The ministry said the probable causes of the accident were excessive speed and driver recklessness, adding all victims had been taken to a nearby health centre.

The ministry stated an investigation had been opened to determine the exact circumstances of the accident.

In neighbouring Senegal, another accident on Thursday left six people dead and 14 injured between Ndouloumadji and Ourossogui near the Mauritanian border, President Bassirou Diomaye Faye wrote on his Facebook page.

Road accidents are frequent in Mali and Senegal, most due to the poor condition of roads and vehicles, as well as human error.

Source: Barrons

BDST: 2058 HRS, JULY 26, 2024
MSK