Over 30 people killed in Tanzania as bus explodes into flames following a night Highway collision

More than 35 people have perished in Tanzania following a horrid road accident in which a bus which was traveling from Dar-es-salaam heading to Mbeya, collided head-on with a timber truck before both vehicles exploded in flames.

The accident, one of the two highway mishaps that occurred in the night of October 8, in Morogoro left several passengers badly injured, while three police officers were killed in yet another road crash that was reported around the same time in the same region.

Both the Morogoro Police Commander, Andrew Kantimbo and the regional chief of fire department, Joseph Mwasabeja, have confirmed the incident.

The Chinese-made, Higer bus, christened Green Line with registration numbers T-672 DLT, which was traveling from Dar-es-salaam heading to the Southern Highlands, precisely Mbeya, collided with a Scania Semi-Trailer truck, with plate numbers T-902 EGN which was carrying logs and heading in the opposite direction.

The crash occurred at Mkambarani area, of Kingolwira, within a spot known as ‘Kikombe cha Chai,’ in the Morogoro Municipality, according to reports from the scene of the accident.

There then followed a loud explosion then the two vehicles reportedly burst into deadly flames.

Videos of the fire showed both the lorry and the bus burning to ashes, with the local fire brigade truck arriving at the scene and being of very little help. The police also did very little in assistance.

As usual, it was local residents who worked in unison to try and save the people who were trapped in the raging fires deep in the night.

They are also the ones who helped to secure transport and rushed the injured persons to hospitals.

In the other accident, a Police truck was hit by an oncoming lorry in the Miti Bora section of Mvomero District of Morogoro, killing four officers on the spot. Seven other persons sustained injuries during the accident.