At least 38 people have died and 28 others sustained injuries in a devastating head-on collision between a passenger bus and a minibus in Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro region. According to a statement from the Presidency issued on Sunday, June 29, the fatal crash occurred late Saturday when the bus suffered a tyre burst, veered into the opposite lane, and collided with the oncoming minibus.
Both vehicles were engulfed in flames, leaving 36 of the victims unidentifiable due to severe burns. Of the injured, 22 have since been discharged from hospital, while six remain under medical care.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan has described the incident as a “great tragedy” and conveyed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, alongside wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured. She also made a passionate appeal to motorists nationwide to uphold traffic regulations and prioritise safety on the roads. The disaster has cast a sombre shadow over the region and renewed public concern about vehicular safety standards and driver discipline on Tanzania’s highways.