A devastating collision between two buses in Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro region has claimed up to 40 lives and left 30 others injured, according to officials who confirmed the accident occurred Saturday evening in the Sabasaba area along the Moshi-Tanga highway.
The collision involved a long-distance bus operated by the Channel One company traveling from Moshi to Tanga and a Mitsubishi Rosa minibus carrying passengers to a wedding ceremony. Both vehicles burst into flames following the impact, creating a massive fire that significantly hampered rescue efforts and left many bodies severely burned and unidentifiable.
Preliminary investigations indicate the crash was caused by a tire bursting on the Channel One bus, which caused the driver to lose control and collide head-on with the oncoming minibus. Eyewitnesses reported hearing a deafening noise as the two vehicles collided before being engulfed in flames following an explosion.
Kilimanjaro Regional Fire and Rescue Commander Jeremiah Mkomagi acknowledged that the intensity of the fire created significant challenges for emergency responders attempting to retrieve bodies from the mangled wreckage. The severe burns sustained by victims have made identification extremely difficult, prompting authorities to initiate DNA testing procedures.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan expressed profound sorrow over the tragedy in a statement released Sunday, extending condolences to the affected families and regional officials. “I send my heartfelt condolences to Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner Nurdin Babu, the bereaved families, relatives, and friends,” Hassan stated in her official response.
The President emphasized the ongoing toll that road accidents continue to take on Tanzanian families and called for stricter adherence to road safety regulations. She specifically urged all drivers to observe traffic laws with greater care while calling upon the police force to enforce safety measures more effectively.
Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner Nurdin Babu visited both the accident scene and injured victims receiving treatment at local hospitals. He described the incident as an unprecedented tragedy for the region.
Regional Police Commander Simon confirmed the tire burst as the primary cause of the accident, which led to the Channel One bus losing control and striking the minibus. The force of the collision caused both vehicles to immediately catch fire, trapping passengers inside the burning wreckage.
Among the 40 confirmed fatalities, officials noted that two women were among the dead. However, due to the extensive burns suffered by victims, 36 bodies remain unidentified pending DNA analysis. The government has initiated procedures to assist families in locating missing relatives, with officials urging them to check on the whereabouts of their loved ones.
The injured passengers were transported to nearby hospitals for emergency treatment, with six individuals requiring continued hospitalization due to the severity of their injuries. The nationalities of the victims were not immediately determined, though most are believed to be Tanzanian citizens.
This latest tragedy highlights Tanzania’s ongoing struggle with road safety, despite repeated government initiatives aimed at reducing traffic fatalities. The country has implemented various safety campaigns in recent years, yet fatal accidents continue to occur with alarming frequency on Tanzania’s highways.
According to a 2018 World Health Organization report, Tanzania recorded an estimated 13,000 to 19,000 traffic accident deaths in 2016, significantly higher than the government’s official count of 3,256 fatalities. The discrepancy suggests that road safety challenges in the country may be more severe than officially documented.
The wreckage of both vehicles was cleared from the scene by authorities, with the burned remains of the buses towed away as investigations continue. The bodies of the deceased were transported to local morgues for storage and identification procedures, while families await news of their missing relatives.
The Sabasaba accident represents one of the deadliest road incidents in the Kilimanjaro region in recent memory, with officials describing it as a national tragedy that has deeply affected the local community. Investigations into the exact circumstances surrounding the collision remain ongoing as authorities work to support the victims and their families during this challenging period.
