At least 10 feared dead after kombi carrying pilgrims plunges into Deka River near Hwange

At least 10 feared dead after kombi carrying pilgrims plunges into Deka River near Hwange
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At least 10 people were feared dead on Saturday morning after a commuter omnibus carrying pilgrims plunged into the Deka River while attempting to cross Deka Bridge near Hwange.

The kombi was reportedly carrying 15 passengers travelling from Makwa to Hwange, and was believed to have been transporting congregants returning from a Roman Catholic Church event when the crash occurred.

Witnesses said the vehicle lost control in the middle of the bridge before veering off and falling into the river, where it became almost completely submerged.

Emergency rescue teams from Hwange Colliery Company, the Zimbabwe Power Company (a subsidiary of ZESA Holdings) and the Hwange Local Board attended the scene and began rescue operations.

One witness told The Chronicle the incident had happened moments before he arrived. “When I arrived at the scene, the accident had just happened. The kombi was almost submerged in the river. Some bodies had already been recovered from the water,” he said.

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By the time of publication, reports from the scene indicated that about eight bodies had been retrieved from the river, while two more victims were believed to still be trapped inside the submerged vehicle.

Five survivors, including three children and the driver, were rescued and taken to Hwange Colliery Hospital for treatment. Some of the injured were reported to be in critical condition.

Preliminary reports suggested the driver may have lost control after the vehicle’s brakes allegedly failed while crossing the bridge.

Police had not officially confirmed the accident at the time of publication, while rescue efforts were continuing late into the morning. The incident drew anxious relatives and residents to the area as emergency personnel continued searching for possible survivors.

Although the crash occurred outside Mashonaland Central, road traffic accidents involving kombis remain a national concern, with communities across Zimbabwe continuing to call for improved vehicle roadworthiness checks, safer driving practices and stronger enforcement on public transport routes.

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