Benin – Glazoué Tragedy: 23 bodies recovered, 21 passengers still missing

The accident occurred around midnight when the driver of the STM company bus, with license plate CC 0085MD, violently hit the bridge railing before ending its journey at the bottom of the river.

According to the statement from the Minister of the Interior and Public Security, Alassane Séidou, the vehicle was coming from Lomé headed for Niamey. On the orders of the head of state, the ORSEC plan was immediately triggered, mobilizing firefighters, naval forces, republican police, and civil protection.

The searches resumed at 6:30 am on Monday, August 18th, despite particularly difficult conditions. The bus, fully submerged at nearly 15 meters deep, was pulled from the waters. Divers, faced with almost zero visibility in murky and muddy water, continue the search for the missing passengers.

An Ongoing Provisional Report

At this stage, the authorities report nine survivors, all evacuated and hospitalized in Savè, the recovery of one dead body on August 17th, followed by 23 other bodies found on August 18th, bringing the provisional death toll to 33 victims. Twenty-one people are still missing.

The government expressed its condolences to the grieving families and its solidarity to the survivors. “Efforts continue to find the missing and clarify the circumstances of this unfortunate event,” said Minister Alassane Séidou.