18 passengers die from truck that fell into a ravine in Congo

2024-01-22 13:46:02

KISASA, Democratic Republic of the Congo (AP) — A speeding truck veered off the road and plunged into a ravine in southwestern Democratic Republic of Congo, killing 18 passengers and killing more than a dozen. They were injured, police reported.

The truck was traveling “loaded with goods and carrying many passengers” on a major road in the remote Kasangulu territory in Central Congo province on Sunday when it fell into a ravine, according to Kasangulu police commander Benjamin Banza.

“The bodies recovered from the ravine were transferred to the Kasangulu General Hospital morgue, while the injured, six of them seriously and 15 minors, are receiving medical attention at the hospital,” Banza said on Sunday night.

The truck was seriously damaged and has not yet been recovered from the ravine, Banza said, adding that excessive speed is suspected to have been the cause of the accident.

Speeding is a common cause of accidents on major roads in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where traffic rules are often not respected.

Sunday’s accident revived concerns regarding road safety in Central Congo province, which regularly sees such tragedies. Local authorities have promised to train drivers and enforce traffic rules in response.

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