Harare, Zimbabwe (PANA) - Thirty
three people drowned and 40 others were feared dead when a bus attempting
to cross a flooded river near the Zimbabwean capital, Harare, was swept
away, authorities said Monday.
Most major rivers in the country have
been flooded following three days of heavy cyclone rains last week, which
destroyed homes, bridges and other infrastructure particularly in eastern
and southern Zimbabwe.
Before the bus tragedy, the death toll from cyclone "Eline" stood at 29 country-wide, but Civil Protection officials said the figure might be higher because they were unable to cover all areas.
The driver of the bus, who survived, claimed he had been forced to attempt to cross the flooded river by passengers impatient to reach their destinations.
Mozambique, South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe have been battled by heavy rains and floods in recent weeks.
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