Bus Plunge in Benin Leaves 1 Dead, 44 Missing

A bus carrying 54 passengers veered off a bridge and plunged into the Oueme River in central Benin early Sunday, resulting in one confirmed death and 44 people missing, according to the country's Ministry of the Interior and Public Security. The vehicle, traveling from Togo's capital Lomé to Niger's capital Niamey, lost control after colliding with a guardrail, triggering a multi-national rescue effort.

Benin's Interior Minister Alassane Seidou confirmed nine survivors were hospitalized in stable condition. The government has activated emergency protocols, deploying divers, medical teams, and disaster response units to locate the missing. Authorities emphasized cross-border coordination with Togo and Niger, given the passengers' nationalities.

The incident highlights transportation safety challenges along West Africa's interregional routes, which see heavy commercial and migrant traffic. While investigations into the crash continue, the tragedy underscores the human cost of infrastructure gaps in rapidly developing economies. The Beninese government expressed condolences to affected families and vowed to strengthen road safety measures.

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1 dead, 44 missing as bus plunges into river in Benin

cgtn.com