Fifteen killed as minibuses crash head-on

Two speeding minibuses travelling on a windy road collided in northern Burundi, killing 15 people and injuring at least 10 others, police said today.

The accident happened on Saturday in Ngozi province about 65 miles north of Bujumbura.

Police commander Sagaba Zachary said: “Both minibuses were completely destroyed.

Considering the damage to the minibuses it is clear the drivers were exceeding speed limits.”

Dieudonne Kubwimana, a passenger on one of the minibuses, said the vehicles, which were travelling in opposite directions, were overloaded.

“I was sitting with six people on a seat for four people, but when we stopped at a police check point, the police let us continue,” he said.

Minibuses are the main form of public transport in the tiny central African nation.