Nine people, including two children, were killed on Tuesday morning when a passenger bus was struck by a goods train after reportedly failing to stop at a railway level crossing in Chiredzi district.
The fatal collision occurred at around 7AM on Mbizi Road in Triangle, sending dozens of passengers to hospital and triggering a major emergency response.
According to the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ), the Makuku Bus was travelling from Chikombedzi to Masvingo when it entered the railway crossing directly in the path of an approaching train.
The goods train was travelling from Triangle to the NRZ Lundi siding at the time of the crash.
In a statement, the NRZ said preliminary investigations indicated that the bus driver failed to comply with railway crossing regulations.
“The bus driver failed to observe level crossing rules, which require drivers to stop and check for oncoming trains before proceeding,” the NRZ said.
The impact killed nine passengers, among them seven adults and two children.
At least 25 other passengers were rushed to hospital with injuries, according to the NRZ.
Police later confirmed the death toll and reported that 26 people had been injured in the crash.
National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said officers were still at the scene conducting investigations.
“More details will be availed soon as police officers are still attending to the accident,” said Nyathi.
Emergency services, including police, ambulance crews and fire brigade personnel, were deployed to the scene as rescue efforts continued throughout the morning.
The tragedy is one of the deadliest railway crossing accidents in recent years and has renewed concerns over road safety and compliance with level crossing regulations.
The NRZ expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
The railway operator also urged motorists to exercise greater caution when approaching railway crossings.
“We would also like to urge all motorists to strictly observe level crossing regulations to avoid loss of lives and injuries,” the NRZ said.
Authorities are expected to release further details once investigations into the circumstances surrounding the collision are completed.
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