9 killed, 25 injured as bus collides with train in Zimbabwe

Nine people were killed and 25 others injured after a bus collided with a National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) train at a level crossing in Chiredzi on Tuesday morning.

The fatal accident occurred at around 7am when a train travelling from Triangle to the NRZ Lundi siding crashed into a bus that was travelling from Chikombedzi to Masvingo.

In a statement, Andrew Kunambura, spokesperson for the National Railways of Zimbabwe, confirmed the incident and said preliminary investigations suggest the bus driver failed to comply with level crossing regulations.

According to Kunambura, motorists are required to stop, look and ensure that no train is approaching before proceeding across railway tracks.

"Unfortunately, nine passengers in the bus died on the spot. They include seven adults and two minors," he said.

"Twenty-five passengers from the bus were taken to hospital where they are receiving treatment."

Emergency response teams, including the police, ambulance services and the fire brigade, were quickly dispatched to the scene and rescue operations were ongoing at the time the statement was issued.

Authorities have not yet released the identities of the deceased, pending notification of next of kin.

The tragic collision has once again highlighted the importance of strict adherence to safety regulations at railway level crossings, which remain critical points of interaction between road and rail traffic.

Kunambura urged motorists to exercise caution and comply with all level crossing rules to prevent similar tragedies.

"We would also like to urge all motorists to strictly observe level crossing regulations to avoid loss of lives and injuries," he said.

The NRZ extended its condolences to the families and relatives of those who lost their lives in the accident and wished those receiving treatment a full and speedy recovery.

Police are expected to conduct further investigations to establish the full circumstances surrounding the collision.