Luanda:At least 14 people lost their lives and five others sustained serious injuries when a public transit taxi crashed on National Highway 280 in Angola's Huila province. The accident occurred around 7 a.m. near the Quipungo and Matala district border.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the Toyota Hiace van veered off the road and collided with a bridge before catching fire. Most of the 20 passengers, including the driver, perished from severe burns as they were unable to escape the flames.
Chief Superintendent Renata Matos of the Huila National Police stated that the crash is suspected to have been caused by excessive speed and a tire blowout, leading the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
The five survivors were initially treated at Matala Municipal Hospital, with two individuals later transferred to Dr. Ant³nio Agostinho Neto Central Hospital in Lubango due to the severity of their injuries.
The victims were aged between 12 and 32, and efforts to officially identify them are ongoing. Authorities have cautioned that the fire completely destroyed the vehicle and personal belongings, complicating the identification process.
In light of increasing highway accidents in the region, police have intensified public awareness campaigns, focusing on commercial transit drivers. These campaigns emphasize the importance of adhering to speed limits and practicing defensive driving.
