At least 56 people were killed and 30 were seriously injured when a bus plunged over an embankment southwest of Asmara in what authorities believe was one of Eritrea’s worst road accidents, the state new agency Erina reported late on Monday.
The bus, which police believe may have been overloaded, was travelling between the towns of Adi Quala and Maimene in southern Eritrea when it slipped off the road and slid down a 100m ravine about 80km from the capital, it said.
The injured passengers are receiving emergency treatment at hospitals in the towns of Adi Quala and Mendefera, Erina said, adding that reports from Mendefera indicated ”the bus was carrying passengers above its capacity”.
”Police are investigating the cause of the accident believed to be the worst in the history of the nations public road transport service,” the news agency reported. – Sapa-AFP