Overloaded truck speeding causes accident, 78 people die

The tragic accident occurred when an overloaded truck was speeding and lost control, killing 78 people and injuring dozens of others.

This morning (July 6), Reuters news agency reported that the accident occurred outside the town of Bambari, about 300 km northeast of the capital Bangui of the Central African Republic, when the truck was speeding on its way to a weekly market in the village of Maloum.

People in the Central African Republic often travel in overloaded vehicles - Photo: AFP.

"As of now, we have 78 dead and 72 injured. Many of the injured at the scene were taken home and died shortly afterwards, but most of the victims died here," said Dr. Chamberlain Bama of the hospital in Bambari.

Amaseka Topi, a local government representative, said the truck was overloaded and going faster than usual. "They were driving fast to get to the market on time. That must have caused the accident," Topi said.

The Central African Republic’s infrastructure is in ruins after decades of neglect, and road safety regulations are rarely followed.

Central African Republic hit by violence after rebelsIslamoverthrew President Francois Bozize in 2013, sparking a backlash from Christian rebels.

Since then, thousands of people have died and one-fifth of Central Africans have fled their homes./.

According to VOV