Benin – Glazoué Tragedy: 35 Nigeriens Among the 43 Victims, Six Nationalities Affected

The tragic accident at Thio Bridge, which occurred in the town of Glazoué, has taken a cross-border dimension with victims from six different nationalities. According to the Beninese Agency for Civil Protection (ABPC), 38 bodies have already been returned to families, but search operations are continuing in the Ouémé River.

The tragedy particularly hits Niger, which mourns 35 deaths out of the 43 counted, almost all the passengers. This heavy loss is explained by the destination of the bus, Niamey, the capital of Niger. The other victims are from Togo, Benin, Chad, Ghana, and Germany, the latter being a woman of African origin, according to details from the ABPC.

A Disaster with Regional Repercussions

The searches, conducted by rescue teams, have revealed a disconcerting discrepancy. This Wednesday, seven bodies were recovered instead of the six expected according to the vehicle’s manifest. This difference raises questions about the actual number of passengers on board the bus at the time of the disaster.

The tragedy, which occurred in the night from Saturday, August 16, to Sunday, August 17, 2025, continues to rally the authorities of Benin and neighboring countries whose citizens are among the victims. Grieving families are crowding into the Savè zone hospital for body identification, in an atmosphere of deep sadness.

The relevant authorities remind that investigations are ongoing to determine the precise causes of this deadly accident.