HispanicBusiness

At least 59 people were confirmed dead Thursday in a road accident in Zambia's Central Region.

A further five passengers were hospitalized and were in critical condition, said the area's deputy police commissioner, Andrew Mbewe.

The accident happened during the morning hours, when a truck lost control and crashed into a bus that was bound for the capital, Lusaka, with more than 60 passengers on board.

Both the bus and the truck drivers died in the accident.

According to Road Transport and Safety Agency director Zindaba Soko, the cause of the accident was speeding.

This is the biggest number of deaths Zambia has recorded in a road traffic accident for several years, said the head of the Zambia Postal Services, the operator of the bus.