At least 49 people have died of thirst after a truck carrying migrants broke down in the desert in Niger.
According to reports, the group was traveling through a remote area of the Sahara Desert when the vehicle developed mechanical problems, leaving the passengers stranded for days without water or assistance.
Officials said many of the victims were migrants attempting to reach North Africa and eventually Europe through desert migration routes.
Aid organizations reported that extreme heat and lack of water caused many of the travelers to die from dehydration and exhaustion.
Rescue teams later discovered several bodies in the area, while a small number of survivors were found in critical condition.
The desert regions of Niger have long been used as major transit routes for migrants trying to reach the Mediterranean coast before attempting dangerous crossings to Europe.
Human rights groups have repeatedly warned about the severe risks migrants face in the Sahara, including thirst, starvation, human trafficking, violence, and death.
Analysts say ongoing conflict, poverty, unemployment, and insecurity in several African countries continue to push many people to undertake such dangerous journeys in search of better opportunities.