Death toll from truck crash rises to 65 in Swaziland

Death toll from a truck crash involving young girls has risen to 65, the Swaziland Solidarity Network reported on Saturday

The truck, which was carrying the girls on their way to cut reeds for the annual Umhlanga (ceremony) Reed Dance in Swaziland, crashed near a border area in Mbabane, capital of Swaziland late Friday, said the report.

The accident came just a day before King Mswati III is expected to choose a new wife, according to the report.

"We can now confirm that 65 young girls have perished on that accident even those that we admitted which earlier on were reported critically injured. We want to extend our deepest to their families," the report said.

But the report hasn't been confirmed by the Swazi government.

The Umhlanga Reed Dance is held annually to honor the Queen Mother in Swaziland. It is a Swazi and Zulu cultural event, in which, tens of thousands of unmarried and childless Swazi girls and women travel from the various chiefdoms to the Ludzidzini Royal Village to participate in the eight-day dance.

Source: XINHUA