Eight members of the Roman Catholic Church died on Saturday morning after a kombi carrying worshippers plunged into Deka Bridge along Deka Road in Hwange. A...
Eight members of the Roman Catholic Church died on Saturday morning after a kombi carrying worshippers plunged into Deka Bridge along Deka Road in Hwange.
According to the Zimbabwe Republic Police, the fatal road traffic accident occurred at around 7am.
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In a statement, police confirmed that the victims were travelling from a night prayer gathering when the accident happened.
“The ZRP reports a fatal road traffic accident at Deka Bridge, along Deka Road, Hwange,” the police statement said.
“Eight Roman Catholic members died when their kombi plunged into the bridge as they were coming from night prayers.”
Police said the kombi was carrying 13 occupants at the time of the accident.
Authorities have not yet released the identities of the deceased or details regarding the condition of the survivors.
The cause of the accident had also not been confirmed by Saturday, with police indicating that more information surrounding the incident would be released in due course.
The accident has added to growing concerns over road safety on Zimbabwe’s highways and rural roads, particularly involving public transport vehicles travelling during early morning hours.
Residents and members of the church community are expected to gather in mourning following the tragedy, which claimed the lives of worshippers returning from a church gathering.
Police are expected to continue investigations into the circumstances that led to the kombi plunging into the bridge.
