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Dozens killed in Swaziland truck crash | |
(1 day later) | |
At least 38 girls and young women have been killed in a crash while travelling to a traditional festival in Swaziland, a rights group said on Saturday. | At least 38 girls and young women have been killed in a crash while travelling to a traditional festival in Swaziland, a rights group said on Saturday. |
About 20 others were injured when the truck they were in collided with another vehicle on Friday, the Swaziland Solidarity Network said. | About 20 others were injured when the truck they were in collided with another vehicle on Friday, the Swaziland Solidarity Network said. |
The young women and girls were travelling on the back of an open truck, the rights group said. | The young women and girls were travelling on the back of an open truck, the rights group said. |
Police in Swaziland, a small mountainous country of 1.4 million people bordering South Africa and Mozambique, discouraged reporting on the accident, the group said. | Police in Swaziland, a small mountainous country of 1.4 million people bordering South Africa and Mozambique, discouraged reporting on the accident, the group said. |
Photographers were prevented from taking pictures at the scene, said a Swazi journalist, who requested anonymity. | Photographers were prevented from taking pictures at the scene, said a Swazi journalist, who requested anonymity. |
The women were travelling on a road between the cities of Mbabane and Manzini, when the vehicle they were in crashed into another and was then hit in the rear by a second truck, the Times of Swaziland reported. | The women were travelling on a road between the cities of Mbabane and Manzini, when the vehicle they were in crashed into another and was then hit in the rear by a second truck, the Times of Swaziland reported. |
“We were about 50 on board the first truck that smashed into the Toyota van,” said Siphelele Sigudla, 18, a survivor quoted by the newspaper. | “We were about 50 on board the first truck that smashed into the Toyota van,” said Siphelele Sigudla, 18, a survivor quoted by the newspaper. |
The girls and young women were on their way to the Swazi king’s royal residence for the annual reed dance. | The girls and young women were on their way to the Swazi king’s royal residence for the annual reed dance. |
About 40,000 participate in the eight-day ceremony in which they sing and dance as they bring reeds to reinforce the windbreak around the royal residence, a government website said. | About 40,000 participate in the eight-day ceremony in which they sing and dance as they bring reeds to reinforce the windbreak around the royal residence, a government website said. |
Swaziland is Africa’s last absolute monarchy. | Swaziland is Africa’s last absolute monarchy. |