AT least 26 people tragically lost their lives in Malawi after a minivan collided with a fuel tanker and burst into flames. The horrifying incident occurred on Wednesday in the central Kasungu district, resulting in the total destruction of the minivan and the deaths of all its passengers.
Harry Namwaza, deputy spokesman for the Malawi Police Service, confirmed the tragic event, stating, ‘All passengers on the minivan were burned completely, and there have been no survivors.’ The accident happened as the minivan, which was en route to Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe, attempted to overtake the fuel tanker at high speed. The driver lost control and crashed into the tanker, igniting the deadly fire.
This incident adds to the alarming number of road accidents in Malawi, a country where such tragedies are all too common. According to a recent report by the Malawi Police Service, the nation recorded 4,977 road accidents last year, 389 of which were fatal. Just last weekend, another tragic accident claimed the lives of about 10 people when a speeding vehicle careened into a busy marketplace in the southern region.
Officials and experts cite reckless driving and poor road conditions as significant contributors to the high rate of road fatalities in the Southern African nation. The government, along with road engineers and safety specialists, continues to grapple with finding solutions to improve road safety and reduce the number of accidents.
Africabriefing
