Cylinder explodes on Zimbabwe bus killing about 42

At least 42 bus passengers died close to midnight of Thursday, November 15, in southern Zimbabwe. Local police said the incident happened after a passenger’s gas cylinder exploded for an unknown reason.

“At the moment, we know that more than 42 people have died,” police spokesman Charity Charamba told AFP.

Those who survived are said to be battling with serious burns. Photos shared on social media show the entire bus engulfed in a blaze. It has been reduced to rubble.

This is the latest in a string of bus accidents to rock the southern African country. The most recent being a bus collision that claimed scores earlier this month.

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Police have confirmed the accident. It is suspected a gas tank belonging to one of the passengers caused the inferno in the bus. Some of the images have been censored as they are more graphic. caesarzvayiTafadzwaMugwadi Michellehakata HChikwanha pic.twitter.com/7CljLNTvZ8

— The Herald Zimbabwe (@HeraldZimbabwe) November 16, 2018

The November 7 incident claimed forty-seven people lives according to police records. Forty five of the victims were adults whilst two children were also killed.

They died on the spot when two buses collided in the town of Rusape in the country’s northeastern Manicaland Province. The crash involved passenger buses – Smart Express and Bolt Cutter, report said.

According to the state broadcaster, Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, ZBC, report; scores others were injured in the crash that happened close to a tollgate.

President Mnangagwa issued a statement commiserating with those that lost loved ones and with those injured. He stressed that such incidents were one too many and needed to be checked.