Four firefighters drown in Zim
2008-01-28 15:02
Harare - Four firefighters returning from rescuing villagers marooned by a flooded river drowned after their truck slipped off a bridge into the torrent, Zimbabwe's official media reported on Monday.
The accident took place near the town of Ruwa about 25km east of Harare late on Friday, the Herald newspaper reported. Two bodies were recovered from swollen Ruwa River on Sunday.
The deaths brought to at least 31 the number of drownings countrywide in the heaviest seasonal rains since record keeping began a century ago. Most of the victims were swept away trying to cross-raging rivers.
Police spokesperson Andrew Phiri said the driver attempted to cross a flooded bridge and it was believed a front wheel slipped over the edge, overturning the vehicle into the river. The driver survived, but his four colleagues were killed.
The men were returning from rescuing a group of villagers stranded in the upper reaches of the river nearby.
In northeastern Zimbabwe, at least 600 villagers had been left homeless by rains that also swept away crops and livestock. Zimbabwe's neighbours also had been hit by floods.
- AP