Kinshasa, DRC
At least 30 died early Sunday when a packed bus
came off the road and burst into flames near Kinshasa, the DR Congo capital, a
local official said.
"The current toll is 30 dead, 18 others
have third-degree burns," Red Cross spokesman David Nsiala told reporters.
"We are continuing the work of identifying
the bodies," added Nsiala, who runs the Red Cross in Mbanzea-Ngungu
territory southwest of Kinshasa.
The bus, laden with people and goods, was
travelling from Lufu to Kinshasa when its brakes failed, Didier Nsimba, deputy
administrator of Mbanza-Ngungu territory told reporters.
The accident happened about one o'clock in the
morning, he added.
An injured passenger who gave her name as Nacha
said more than 100 people had been in the vehicle at the time. Many bodies were
burned beyond recognition, she added.
“More than 100 people were on board the bus
travelling to the capital, Kinshasa when its brakes failed.” Nacha said.
Authorities suspect
that the bus was carrying fuel, alcoholic beverages and other miscellaneous
goods. Some of the victims' bodies have already been evacuated from the
accident site.
Mbanza-Ngungu is located about 150 kilometres
(90 miles) from Kinshasa on Highway 1, a road with a notorious reputation for
deadly accidents.
Several accidents are reported each month on
this national road due to excessive speeds and overloads.
Last year, a vehicle with a container caught
fire on the same road after colliding with a bus, killing more than 130 people
and injuring several others.
The country's national road safety commission
said last week that 198 traffic accidents were recorded between July and
September with 50 dead and 336 others wounded. - Africa
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