Tanzanian bus plunges into river, killing 54

DAR ES SALAAM, June 10 (Reuters) Fifty-four people were killed and 20 others injured when a bus plunged into a river in northern Tanzania , a senior regional official said.

Abbas Kandoro, the Arusha regional commissioner, said the bus was carrying 74 people -- almost three times the legally allowed 26.

''There were some (people) that were standing, plus cargo on top,'' he said yesterday. ''It is not allowed within the law because the bus's capacity is 26 passengers.'' He said the bus plunged around 9 metres into the Mererani River.

''The bus was carrying 74 passengers. Fifty four people have died,'' he added.

The accident happened near Arusha, about 470 km (northwest of Dar es Salaam.

The accident comes barely two days after a lorry carrying more than 50 passengers, overturned in northwest Tanzania, killing 28 people.

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