At least 12 people were reported killed in a series of road accidents ahead of the Mouride annual Grand Magal pilgrimage in the city of Touba, Senegal’s National Fire Brigade said on Saturday.
The deaths have been recorded since emergency operations began on 28th July to prepare for the country’s largest religious gathering.
According to the Senegal National Fire Brigade, firefighters had responded to 182 emergency incidents involving 304 people as of 8am local time on Saturday.
Of those incidents, 133 were road accidents involving 286 people. Firefighters assisted 274 victims, while 12 people were confirmed dead.
To cope with the influx of pilgrims, the brigade has supplied 281 cubic metres of water in Touba to help meet rising demand and prevent shortages.
For this year’s Grand Magal, authorities deployed 563 firefighters along with 91 emergency and support vehicles to provide rescue, firefighting and medical services throughout the event.
The Grand Magal is one of Senegal’s largest annual religious gatherings. Organised by the Mouride Muslim brotherhood, the pilgrimage commemorates the return from exile in Gabon in 1895 of its founder, Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba Mbacké, by French colonial authorities.