At least 12 people have been killed in road accidents ahead of Senegal's annual Grand Magal pilgrimage in the central city of Touba, the National Fire Brigade said on Saturday.
The fatalities have been recorded since the brigade launched its emergency operation on July 28, Lieutenant Djily Diouf, communications officer for the contingent deployed for the pilgrimage, was quoted as saying by the Senegalese Press Agency.
As of 8:00 am local time on Saturday, firefighters had responded to 182 emergency incidents involving 304 people, Diouf said.
Among those operations, 133 were road accidents involving 286 people. Firefighters provided assistance to 274 victims, while 12 people were confirmed dead.
To support the large influx of pilgrims, the brigade has also supplied 281 cubic metres of water in Touba to help meet increased demand and avert potential shortages.
For this year's pilgrimage, the National Fire Brigade has deployed 563 personnel along with 91 emergency and support vehicles to provide rescue, firefighting and medical services.
The Grand Magal, scheduled to take place on Sunday, is one of Senegal's largest annual religious gatherings. Organised by the Mouride Muslim brotherhood, the event commemorates the 1895 exile of its founder, Cheikh Ahmadou Bamba, by the French colonial authorities.