65 Killed in Guinea Truck Accident

VOA News
March 20, 2007

Officials in Guinea say 65 people have died and many others were severely injured when an overloaded truck they were traveling in overturned.

Medical and police officials say the truck was carrying more than 70 passengers when it veered off a bridge and overturned into a lake late Monday.

Officials say the overcrowded truck was headed to a weekly market in Koudou, near the Guinea-Sierra Leone border.

Such accidents are relatively common in Guinea and other African countries, where many people risk taking rides on trucks meant only for commerce.

Aid workers say poorly maintained roads and a lack of traffic regulations contribute to the problem.

Local journalist Maseco Conde says Guinea's recent nationwide strike left the roads in even more disrepair than normal.

Some information for this report provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.