In northern Ivory Coast, a tragic accident occurred when a tanker truck collided with a bus, resulting in the death of 13 individuals and causing injuries to 44 others, as reported by the Transportation Ministry and local media on Saturday. The collision between the bus and the tanker truck took place Friday night on the highway connecting Bouake and Korhogo, two major cities in the country’s northern region. The road’s width had been reduced due to a freight truck parked without warning indicators, according to Police Secours, an organization that monitors fatal accidents in the country.

Police Secours described the impact between the bus and the tanker truck as causing a highly intense fire. The Ivorian Press Agency and the state television channel Radiodiffusion Television Ivoirienne confirmed the details of the report and the number of casualties. Road accidents are a common occurrence in Ivory Coast, attributed to poorly maintained roads and reckless driving habits. The Transportation Ministry states that over 1,000 individuals lose their lives each year in road accidents in the West African nation.

To address the issue of road safety, authorities introduced a system last year where drivers are allocated a total of 12 points under their license, which can be gradually deducted based on driving violations. Additionally, cameras have been installed on major roads across the country to identify and penalize offenders.