At least 19 killed in road accident in southern Tanzania

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At least 19 people were killed on Thursday night in Tanzania's southern highlands region of Songwe after their minibus collided head-on with a truck that was heading to Dar es Salaam from the border town of Tunduma, according to police reports.

Henry Kagwa, the Songwe Regional Hospital Medical Officer, said Friday that 17 of the victims died on the spot and two others were pronounced dead at the hospital.

He said the grisly accident occurred at around 9 p.m. on Thursday at Senjele Hill in Mbozi district, just a few kilometers on the border between Songwe and Mbeya districts.

Kagwa said the dead consisted of 15 females and four males.

Eyewitnesses said the truck appeared to have failed its brakes before it hit another truck coming from the opposite direction that was heading to Songwe district. It finally collided with the minibus traveling to Tunduma.

Witnesses said the truck was ferrying maize.

Songwe Regional Commissioner Nicodemus Mwangela was among those who arrived at the scene to rescue the victims.

President John Magufuli sent a message of condolence to the Songwe Regional Commissioner following the deaths of the 19 people.

The president ordered relevant authorities in Songwe region to investigate the cause of the accident and take relevant measures, said a statement released by the Directorate of Presidential Communication at State House in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency