A tragic bus accident in central Benin has left one dead, nine survivors hospitalized, and 44 passengers missing after a vehicle plunged into the Ouémé River late on the night of 16–17 August 2025.
The STM bus, registration number CC 0085 MD, was traveling from Lomé in Togo to Niamey in Niger when it struck a bridge railing in Thio, within the commune of Glazoué, before falling into the river. Interior Minister Alassane Seïdou confirmed the details in a statement to APA.
“The emergency response plan (ORSEC) was immediately activated under the orders of the President,” Minister Seïdou said, highlighting the rapid mobilization of emergency, security, and health services to conduct rescue, search, and wreckage recovery operations.
At the accident site, the Minister, who also serves as President of the National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction and Adaptation to Climate Change, was joined by senior officials, including the Director General of the Republican Police, the Director General of the Beninese Civil Protection Agency, and local prefects and departmental health and environment directors.
Nine survivors have been hospitalized in Savè, with authorities reporting their health as stable. One body has been recovered, while the search continues for 44 passengers still unaccounted for.
The government expressed its condolences to the family of the deceased passenger and reaffirmed its commitment to continue recovery operations and investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident.
Minister Seïdou also appealed to transport companies and drivers, both domestic and international, to strictly observe traffic regulations and maintain heightened vigilance to reduce the risk of highway accidents.
The incident has drawn national attention to road safety in Benin, particularly on long-distance routes connecting the country to its neighbors. Authorities continue to coordinate rescue efforts, with hopes of locating the missing passengers in the coming days.
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