DAKAR—At least 57 people were killed and dozens of others injured after two buses collided in central Ghana, according to authorities.
The crash took place early on Friday morning near the town of Kintampo, around 330 km (205 miles) from the capital Accra, a police officer told Reuters via telephone.
Ghana: Bus collision claims 50 lives https://t.co/Ej6cZIUfJ4 pic.twitter.com/p3U1L5FRYj
— Africanrealitynews (@Africanreality1) March 22, 2019
Bus disaster in Ghana: At least 60 deaths in frontal collisions after the driver & # 39; fell asleep & # 39; https://t.co/wtNkBQ7DI5 pic.twitter.com/rTZnriCqQL
— XpressNews (@xpressnewsasia) March 22, 2019
The buses had a combined total of 108 passengers at the point of departure, according to a statement from the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC).
The injured are receiving attention at Kintampo South District Hospital, located at Jema, Techiman Holy Family Hospital and Wenchi Methodist Hospital.
At least 60 killed in Ghana bus collision https://t.co/FvPJ1GYowa pic.twitter.com/bi90zm3hSh
— Jepang.net (@jepangnet) March 23, 2019
Footage broadcast by private television station TV3 Ghana showed the charred remains of one bus that caught fire after the collision, and a red VVIP-branded bus strewn on its side.
Reports blame the crash on a head-on collision.
#Ghana Des dizaines de personnes ont été tuées après la collision de deux bus dans le centre du pays pic.twitter.com/lkMdPyBEhQ
— Rebecca Rambar (@RebeccaRambar) March 23, 2019
Road accidents are common in Ghana. The NRSC recorded more than 12,000 crashes between January and November last year, leading to the loss of around 2,100 lives.
Reuters Contributed to this report.