At least three people were killed and 48 others seriously injured after their mini-bus plunged into a channel, a few kilometers from Mwanza city on the shores of Lake Victoria, a medical official said on Friday, Trend reported citing Xinhua.
Bahati Msaki, the chief medical officer for government-owned Sekou Toure hospital, said the accident occurred at 1:45 p.m. Friday when a front tyre of the mini-bus burst and plunged into the channel.
"The tyre burst occurred when the driver of the mini-bus tried to overtake a lorry ferrying sand," said the medical officer.
Msaki said 16 of the injured passengers were treated and discharged while the remaining 32 victims were referred to Bugando referral hospital for specialized treatment.
Erasto Silvanus, deputy chief medical officer for the Emergency Department at the Bugando hospital, said five of the referred victims underwent surgeries.
"Five of the victims who sustained injuries in their heads, abdomen and brain were operated on," said Silvanus, adding that the driver of the mini-bus identified as Mwaka Isabuki had been admitted to intensive care unit nursing brain injuries.