30 KILLED IN BUS ACCIDENT IN WESTERN DR CONGO

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