Twenty-four people died today as a result of a road accident on National Road number 1, in the area of 3 de Fevereiro, Manhiça district, Maputo province.

The accident involved a Toyota Quantum passenger transport vehicle on its way from Gaza to Maputo, carrying 27 people. It crashed while crossing the bridge over the Incomati River.

At the scene of the accident, 22 people died, one on the way to hospital and another in Xinavane rural hospital. Three people sustained injuries and are under observation.

"The condition of the three is slight. They're not serious. The driver is not so serious, he only has some injuries to his chest and arms," said João Denilson, a health technician at the health unit.

On Saturday, a road accident in the same district killed six people.

Matias Parruque, Manhiça's administrator, said that the accidents had overloaded the local services for the conservation of the bodies.

"At the moment, we are creating conditions for the conservation of the bodies. We're having difficulties in our morgue, from the point of view of capacity, and we're discussing with Marracuene to find an alternative for the conservation of the bodies," he said, as quoted by Radio Mozambique.

According to Parruque, the scenario is worrying the district, so "we need to find a mechanism to control these accidents along our road, at least in this part of Manhiça".