Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu, [email protected]
Nineteen passengers sustained injuries early Thursday morning after an Inter Africa bus lost control and overturned along the Gwanda Road near Esigodini.
Bulawayo Chief Fire Officer Mr Mhlangano Moyo confirmed the accident, which occurred at the 35-kilometre peg at a spot commonly referred to as Danger.
In an update, Mr Moyo said emergency services were swiftly mobilised following reports of the incident.
“We received a report of an Inter Africa bus that lost control at Danger, Esigodini, along the Gwanda Road. The bus landed on its side off the road. No persons were trapped,” he said.
Mr Moyo said the city’s disaster response plan was immediately activated, triggering a coordinated response involving multiple emergency service providers.
“We activated our disaster response plan, with several ambulance services responding. Our Senior Ambulance Officer is on the ground coordinating efforts,” he said.
He added that ambulances from various service providers — including private emergency units and city services — were dispatched to the scene to assist the injured.
Mr Moyo said major referral hospitals in Bulawayo had been placed on high alert to receive casualties.
“United Bulawayo Hospitals and Mpilo Central Hospital were advised to be on alert for multiple patients,” he said.
By mid-morning, authorities had confirmed that 19 people had sustained injuries, most of them classified as minor.
“As it stands, we have 19 injured persons, with injuries reported to be minor,” said Mr Moyo.
derick.khumalo