Zimbabwe – Eight people died and dozens were injured in Zimbabwe when a bus carrying churchgoers caught fire on its way back from an annual gathering, police said Monday.
The bus was carrying dozens of Anglican pilgrims when the blaze occurred, causing eight people to be “burnt beyond recognition”, police spokesman Paul Nyathi told AFP.
Nyathi also said more than 50 people were injured with 14 hospitalised.
JUST IN💔 | Listen to the video below for more details. Several passengers are feared dead after a Marondera bus carrying church members caught fire. pic.twitter.com/M6jQQPJlL9
— Crime Watch Zimbabwe (@crimewatchzw) June 16, 2024
“We were unable to identify who exactly died and DNA should be carried out first. Two people are also missing,” he said.
The cause of the fire was not yet known.
“We are still conducting investigations to ascertain the cause of the accident and more details will then be released,” Nyathi said.
1) @MinistryofTID Minister Hon F.T. Mhona, today visited the accident scene where Passion Link bus carrying pilgrims from Bernard Mizeki caught fire in Gandanzara area in Rusape yesterday evening. So far 6 bodies have been recovered with 2 still missing. pic.twitter.com/GfON0kl3PJ
— Ministry of Transport – Zimbabwe (@MinistryofTID) June 17, 2024
The churchgoers were driving back to Manicaland province after attending the Bernard Mizeki Annual Festival in Marondera, a small town near Harare.
The meeting is attended by more than 20,000 congregants from all parts of the world.
Reverend Edwin Selemani of the Anglican Church said in a statement that he wished “healing to the injured and comfort to the bereaved”.
“May God grant rest to the souls of the departed,” he said.
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Source: AFP
Picture: Unsplash
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