Lobamba - At least 38 young Swazi girls have been killed and 20 others critically injured while on their way to cut reeds for the Umhlanga Reed Dance in Swaziland, according the media reports on Saturday.
It was reported that the girls were travelling in an open truck along the Mbabane-Manzini highway on Friday night when their vehicle hit a car.
According to Eyewitness News, it was understood police and the local media had been barred from reporting on the incident.
EWN quoted the Swaziland Solidarity Network's Lucky Lukhele as having said the death toll was expected to rise.
“We can confirm that 38 died and that was confirmed on the spot and some have been admitted to hospital”, he was reported as having said.
The accident reportedly occurred on the Mbabane-Manzini highway.
ANA