ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) — Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat has expressed condolences over the tragic road accident that killed at least 40 people in Senegal on Sunday.

At least 40 people were killed and several others injured in a collision between two buses in the Kaffrine region, central Senegal Sunday, according to local authorities in charge of relief and health.

“I express my sincere condolences and my deep compassion to the families of the victims of the tragic road accident,” Faki said in a Twitter post. “My wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured and all my solidarity with President Macky Sall, the government, and the Senegalese people.”

Senegalese President Macky Sall has decreed a three-day national mourning following the traffic accident. He added that an inter-ministerial council would also hold a meeting to decide on the firm measures to be taken for road safety and public passenger transport.

In the deadliest motor accident in Senegal’s recent years, at least 38 people have been killed and dozens injured after a crash involving two buses.

Deadly bus collision outside of Kaffrine, Senegal© CHEIKH DIENG/AFP or licensors

The collision occurred at around 3:15 am near the city of Kaffrine, 250km south of Dakar.

The victims were taken to hospital in Kaffrine, while the carcasses of the buses were moved and the roads reopened. 

Senegal’s president, Macky Sall, has announced three days of national mourning, starting Monday.

The head of state lamented the loss of life and said he was ‘profoundly saddened by the tragic road accident.’

Authorities are saying that a public transport bus suffered a burst tire which made it deviate from its trajectory and collide with a bus coming from the opposite direction.

An inter-ministerial meeting is due to take place on Monday to take stock and act on vehicular public transport safety.

Story by Euronews with AFP