ACP Stellah Mutahibirwa, the regional police commander, confirmed the accident, saying that the train engine was on its routine shunting.
"The number of deaths could rise as most of the 25 injured passengers are in critical conditions,” she said, noting that the bus was heading to Mwanza city from the commercial capital of Dar es Salaam.
She explained that the driver of the bus attempted to rush over the railway crossing without first halting and checking train movements as traffic regulations demand.
Peter Serukamba, the regional commissioner, urged drivers to abide by traffic regulations to avoid unnecessary accidents of that sort, also praising nurses and doctors at the Manyoni and Itigi district hospitals.
The medical staff showed intense commitment in arranging for treatment of the injured passengers, while Jamila Mbarouk, head of communication at Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) regretted the accident.
She said in a statement that out of 13 people who died, six are women, while among the 25 injured people there are seven women.
The bus of the accident, T 178 DVB belonging to Ally’s Star bus service rammed into a light train engine, V 951 9006 moving from Aghondi station, the official noted, citing the railway crossing as rail 587 kilometres point.
“TRC reminds drivers to adhere to safety regulations especially when moving across railway tracks to avoid loss of lives and injuries,” the statement intoned.
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