13 dead, 32 injured in bus, freight train collision in Tanzania

By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) - Thirteen people were killed and 32 injured in a collision Wednesday between a passenger bus and a freight train in the Singida region of Tanzania.

The accident occurred at an intersection where the road and railway meet, turning what should have been a routine journey from Dar es Salaam to Mwanza into devastation.

Manyoni District Hospital chief medical officer, Furaha Mwakafilwa, confirmed the deaths to reporters and noted that dozens were being treated at the hospital.

Rescue operations were initiated as emergency services rushed to the scene to provide assistance to the injured and retrieve victims.

The collision prompted investigations into the circumstances surrounding the accident, with authorities telling reporters they are working to ascertain the factors that led to the crash.

Early indications are that the bus operator might not have adhered to traffic signals at the crossroads, potentially contributing to the collision.