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Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau

PANIC-STRICKEN Beitbridge residents have thronged the district hospital where over 30 people are admitted, while 24 others died during a head-on collision between a bus and a commercial truck, 21 km north of the border town.

District Medical Officer, Dr Lenos Samhere, said they have so far confirmed 24 deaths.

He stated that 17 died on the spot, while seven succumbed to head injuries at the hospital.

“We are still busy on the ground. We’ll have a better picture of the exact figures at a later stage,” said Dr Samhere.

According to witnesses, the bus was heading to Beitbridge when it collided with a truck travelling to Chirundu, just 21 km after the Lutumba tollgate.

Residents at the hospital said they had come to check on their relatives to see if they were among the victims.

“I rushed here to verify if any of my relatives were injured or could have died,” said a woman who preferred to be called Mai Tanaka.

The Civil Protection Committee is still on the ground with the police and members of the national army.