How 8 Anglican pilgrims died in Rusape bus fire: police give details

June 18, 2024

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The shell of a Passion Link bus in which 8 church pilgrims were burnt to death on Sunday

By Staff Reporter

Police say that 8 passengers of a Passion Link Coaches bus carrying 65 Anglican church pilgrims may have died in the Sunday fire incident which happened in Rusape.

ALSO READ: 7 CONFIRMED DEAD AS BUS CARRYING ANGLICAN CHURCH PILGRIMS CATCHES FIRE

In a statement, police gave nerve jeering details of how the passengers met their misfortune, stating that the fire was ignited after the bus driver had opened the engine to investigate the source of complaints by some passengers that smoke was coming out of the engine.

ALSO READ: PASSION LINK BUS OPERATOR’S LICENCE REVOKED AFTER FIRE KILLS 8 PILGRIMS

ALSO READ: 45 BOTSWANA NATIONALS CONFIRMED DEAD IN SOUTH AFRICA BUS ACCIDENT

READ FULL POLICE STATEMENT BELOW

Reference is made to the Zimbabwe Republic Police’s post on the X platform concerning a fatal road traffic accident which occurred at the 26 kilometre peg along Nyabadza-Gandanza Road on 16th June 2024 at around 1900 hours.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms that eight people are suspected to have been burnt beyond recognition whilst ten others were injured when a Pashonlink bus with 65 passengers caught fire.

Investigations by the police have established that the bus caught fire after some passengers had alerted the driver that smoke was coming out of the engine.

As a result, the driver stopped the bus to investigate the source of the smoke. Subsequently, a ball of fire came out of the engine and engulfed the whole bus after the driver had opened the engine cover.

The driver and 57 passengers managed to escape from the burning bus through the door and emergency exit windows.

Nine injured victims were admitted at Rusape General Hospital and three were treated and discharged while one victim was referred to Victoria Chitepo Hospital, Mutare.