FILABUSI – Nine people, including a newborn baby, died on Thursday night after a Toyota Noah they were travelling in was swept away while attempting to cross a flooded low-level bridge in Filabusi, police have confirmed. The fatal incident occurred at around 10PM at Tshangamutope River in the Mulula area. Police said the driver of the vehicle had stopped and disembarked to assess the water level.
While he was outside, one of the passengers started the vehicle and attempted to drive across the flooded river. The vehicle was immediately overwhelmed by the strong current and swept away, trapping all those on board. The driver survived.
Members of the local community later managed to retrieve the vehicle from the water, recovering the bodies in the early hours of Friday. National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the victims include five adult women, two adult men, one female juvenile and a male toddler. “Two of the victims have been positively identified, while efforts to identify the remaining victims are ongoing,” Nyathi said.
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The bodies were taken to Filabusi District Hospital mortuary for post-mortem examinations. The tragedy comes amid a spike in rain-related fatalities across the country. Police say more than 80 people have died since the onset of the rainy season, with many victims attempting to cross flooded rivers either on foot or in vehicles. Authorities have repeatedly warned motorists and pedestrians to avoid crossing flooded waterways, urging the public to wait until water levels subside.
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