Sixteen people died and several others were injured in eastern Zimbabwe Tuesday, when a bus in which they were travelling overturned after bursting a front tyre, police said.

The accident occurred four days after 19 other bus passengers died in a similar crash in the north of the country.

Police said the latest accident took place near the farming town of Rusape. The bus, which was carrying 23 passengers, burst its front tyre and rolled twice.

Nine passengers died on the spot, and seven others later in hospital. Police said the death toll may rise as some of the passengers are badly injured.

Zimbabwe has a terrible road accident record, with police blaming drunken driving, speeding and reckless driving for most of the crashes.

Pana 04/08/2011