Pilgrims feared dead after kombi plunges into river near Hwange

At least 10 people are feared dead after a commuter omnibus carrying Roman Catholic pilgrims plunged into the Deka River near Hwange on Saturday morning.

The kombi, which was reportedly carrying 15 passengers travelling from Makwa to Hwange, is said to have veered off Deka Bridge after the driver allegedly lost control due to brake failure.

Five survivors, including three children and the driver, were rescued and rushed to hospital in critical condition.

An eyewitness said the vehicle was almost completely submerged when rescue teams arrived at the scene.

"When I arrived at the scene, the accident had just happened. The kombi was almost submerged in the river. Some bodies had already been recovered from the river," the witness said.

Rescue operations involving teams from Hwange Colliery Company, Zimbabwe Power Company and the Hwange Local Board continued as authorities worked to recover victims from the river.

Reports from the scene indicated that eight bodies had been retrieved while two more people were believed to still be trapped inside the submerged vehicle.

The injured were taken to Hwange Colliery Hospital for treatment, with some reported to be in critical condition.

Police had not yet officially confirmed the full details of the accident by the time of reporting.

The victims were believed to have been returning from a Roman Catholic church gathering when the tragedy occurred.