40 People Killed and Dozens More Injured in Senegal Bus Crash

At least 40 people were killed and several more injured in a deadly crash in Senegal on Sunday, according to the country’s president, Macky Sall.

The country’s public prosecutor Cheikh Dieng said one of the tires on a public bus got punctured, sending the bus careening across Senegal’s National Road No.1 where it crashed into another bus coming the opposite way.

 Dieng said the accident left at least 78 people injured at the scene.

President Sall confirmed on Twitter that the incident happened at 3:30 a.m. in the Gniby village area, located in the Kaffrine region.

“I am deeply saddened by the tragic road accident today in Gniby, causing 40 deaths and many serious injuries,” Sall tweeted. “I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and wish a speedy recovery to the injured.”

Sall said in a tweet that the nation will enter a mourning period of three days following the accident, and he will convene an inter-ministerial council “to take firm measures on road safety and public passenger transport.”