At least 17 people were killed and several others injured in a crash involving a passenger bus and a freight truck in Ivory Coast on Tuesday, authorities confirmed. The accident occurred in Ponan-Ouinlo, a village located in the western part of the country, according to the Ministry of Transport.
The cause of the crash is under investigation. The bus, carrying 70 passengers, was involved in the collision, and 23 additional people were injured, reported the National Office for Civil Protection.
Photos from the scene revealed severe damage to the bus, with its roof completely caved in. Traffic accidents are a common occurrence in Ivory Coast, often attributed to poor road conditions and reckless driving. The Transportation Ministry reports that more than 1,000 people are killed in traffic accidents annually.
In a similar incident last month, 26 people died, and at least 28 others were injured when two minibuses collided and caught fire. To address road safety, authorities introduced a point-based driver’s license system last year, which reduces a driver’s points for violations. Cameras have also been installed on major roads to monitor and penalize offenders.
