TRIANGLE, Zimbabwe — At least nine people, including two children, have been killed and 25 others injured following a catastrophic collision between a freight train and a commuter bus on Tuesday morning, June 16, 2026.

The horror crash occurred around 7:00 AM at a rail-level crossing along Mbizi Road in Triangle, a sugar-producing town located in Zimbabwe's southern Masvingo Province. The bus, packed with passengers, was traveling from Chikombedzi to Masvingo when it crossed paths with the oncoming freight train.

According to National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) spokesperson Andrew Kunambura, initial findings indicate the bus driver failed to stop and check for oncoming trains before proceeding onto the tracks, directly violating railway safety regulations.

The impact was devastating. Photos shared by local media showed the bus crumpled beside the tracks with its side completely sheared off, leaving twisted fragments of metal and shattered debris strewn across the ground.

Emergency crews rushed to the scene to pull victims from the mangled wreckage, where police confirmed the heavy toll of the collision. Seven adults and two minors died from the impact, while at least 25 other passengers sustained various injuries and were rushed to nearby hospitals for urgent medical care.

This tragedy comes less than a week after another horrific transport accident in central Zimbabwe, where a minibus carrying schoolchildren caught fire, killing seven.

"We urge all motorists to strictly observe level crossing regulations to avoid the unnecessary loss of lives and injuries," the NRZ stated in the wake of the disaster.

Road crashes remain an urgent crisis in Zimbabwe. According to the country's road safety agency, a traffic accident occurs roughly every 15 minutes, averaging five deaths and 38 injuries daily, with human error accounting for 94% of these incidents.