Eight killed, 27 injured in road accident in northwest Tanzania

By Our Correspondent, KAGERA Tanzania

At least eight people were killed and 27 others were injured in a road accident in Kagera region in northwestern Tanzania on Friday.

Regional Police Commander (RPC), Revocatus Malimi

According to the Regional Police Commander (RPC), Revocatus Malimi, the bus overturned shortly before 5.45am local time after the driver lost control along a sharp corner on a steep slope.

“After the driver had failed to negotiate the corner, the bus overturned before it was stuck on rocks that prevented it from falling further down,” Malimi told our reporter.

Seven of the eight died on the spot while one person died while receiving treatment, Malimi added.

He said five of the 27 injured passengers were in critical condition with fractured limbs and bruises, adding that the bus was heading to Mwanza city from Kagera region.

The Sabuni Express bus driver who is alleged to have forged unlicensed route escaped and is searched by police.

Tanzania struggles with a poor road safety network with buses being the major mode of public transport between towns. Road accidents involving buses are a concern for authorities in the country.

In 2017, 32 schoolchildren, two teachers and a minibus driver were killed when their vehicle plunged into a roadside ravine in Arusha.