Ivory Coast, Sep 08 (V7N) - A devastating road accident in northern Ivory Coast has resulted in 13 fatalities and 45 injuries. The collision occurred when a tanker truck crashed into a passenger bus late Friday night, local media and rescuers reported.
 
The incident took place around 2300 GMT on the highway connecting Bouake and Korhogo. The road had been partially obstructed by a freight truck parked without warning indicators, leading to the collision, according to Police Secours, a platform monitoring fatal accidents in the country.
 
The impact ignited a severe fire, which consumed both vehicles, leaving "13 bodies charred," Police Secours reported. The Ivorian Press Agency (AIP) confirmed that 19 of the injured were children, who were rushed to hospitals in Katiola and Niakara.
 
Frequent road accidents in Ivory Coast are attributed to poor road conditions, inadequate vehicle maintenance, and reckless driving. In response, the country introduced a point-based driver's license system in 2023 and installed traffic cameras to enforce regulations.
 
Each year, road accidents claim between 1,000 and 1,500 lives in Ivory Coast, as reported by the transport ministry.
 
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