Ivory Coast – Tragic accident near Kanawolo: 4 dead and 60 injured, including 12 in critical condition

A devastating road accident occurred on the evening of Tuesday, May 13, 2025, around 9 p.m., just past the town of Kanawolo. According to preliminary reports from the Ivorian Press Agency (AIP), the crash left four people dead and 60 injured, including 12 in critical condition.

Eyewitnesses said the incident began with a collision between a public transport minibus and a motorcycle. Instead of stopping, the minibus continued on its way, abandoning the two motorcyclists on the road.

Shortly afterward, a long-distance coach traveling from Burkina Faso to Vavoua with 62 passengers attempted to avoid the victims of the initial crash. During the maneuver, the bus veered off the road and plunged into a ravine.

Emergency crews from the Niakara Civil Protection Center (CPC), led by Commander Kobena Yapi, responded swiftly to the scene to assist the victims.

Among the four fatalities were the two motorcyclists, as well as the bus driver and his assistant, who reportedly tried to jump from the vehicle moments before the crash. Twelve people sustained serious injuries, including two children aged four and five, who suffered severe trauma such as open fractures, lacerations, hemorrhages, and crushed limbs. Another 48 passengers were treated for minor injuries.

The injured were rushed to health centers in Niakara and Kanawolo, while the deceased were taken into the care of funeral services in Niakara. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the precise cause of the accident.