A tragic accident in southern Ivory Coast left 21 people dead and 11 injured after two minivans collided near the village of Ahziabre, about 20 kilometers from Gagnoa. The crash occurred on Sunday evening around 7:30 pm, according to the country’s civil protection service (ONPC).
The health center in Ahziabre confirmed the provisional toll, adding to a troubling trend of fatal road accidents in Ivory Coast.
Authorities report that between 1,000 and 1,500 lives are lost annually due to traffic incidents, often attributed to poor road conditions, faulty vehicles, and unqualified drivers.
In September, a similar tragedy unfolded when a car collided with a tanker in northern Ivory Coast, killing 13 people.
The government has since ramped up safety initiatives, implementing stricter licensing regulations, a ban on older car imports, increased road maintenance, and the use of video cameras to monitor traffic.
