Tanzanian President John Magufuli said Sunday he was shocked by a road accident that killed 26 people on Saturday night.
“I have been shocked and saddened following news of the deaths of the 26 innocent Tanzanians,” Magufuli said in a statement by the Directorate of Presidential Communication at State House.
“I join the bereaved families in mourning the deaths of their beloved ones,” he said in a condolence message to the Coast Regional Commissioner, Evarist Ndikilo.
The 26 people died when a mini-bus collided with a lorry in Mkuranga district in Coast region at 9 p.m. on Saturday, which also left 10 others injured, the chief of traffic police Fortunatus Musilimu said Sunday.
He said the mini-bus was travelling from the East African nation’s commercial capital Dar es Salaam to Mkuranga while the lorry ferrying 32 tonnes of salt was moving from Dar es Salaam to the southern region of Mtwara.
Musilimu said the lorry was on high speed and lost control before colliding with the mini-bus.
“The dead included 12 women, seven men and seven children,” said the chief of traffic police.
He said the driver of the mini-bus was among the dead, adding that police were hunting for the driver of the lorry who ran away after the accident.