Dozens of journalists covering the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast suffered varying degrees of injuries after the bus (coach) conveying them from the country’s capital city of Yamoussoukro to Abidjan had an accident in the early hours of Wednesday.

The incident occurred around 2:30 am on Wednesday as the bus was minutes away from its final destination at the AFCON Main Media Centre in Abidjan when it veered off the road and collided with concrete in another lane.

More than 30 journalists, who were coming from Yamoussoukro, where they had gone to cover the final group stage matches of the tournament between Senegal and Guinea and Angola versus Burkina Faso, jumped out through the window for safety.

Many suffered injuries including minor fractures and cuts while the driver of the bus and the bus administrator were badly injured.

However, no life was lost as of press time. The cause of the crash was not yet clear. 

Emergency responders were at the scene in time to rush the injured to the University Centre Hospital in Treichville, Abidjan, and one other hospital in the city where they were treated.

CAF officials and volunteer doctors working with them were present at the hospital to assess the situation. The confederation has yet to release a statement about the incident as of this report was filed.