Sixty-five Swazi young women were killed and 20 others were serious injured in a truck crash on their way to participate in the annual reed dance festival.
The tragic accident took place when an open truck carrying a group of young women hit a car on Mbabane-Manzini highway Friday night, according to The Independent Online. The girls were on their way to participate in the annual Umhlanga Reed dance at Swazi King's royal residence.
"The girls are packed into these trucks, standing room only, like cattle. This was an accident that was waiting to happen for a long time," an eyewitness told eNCA.
"According to information gathered, so serious was the accident that the tarmac was awash with blood, and critically injured imbali [maidens] were littered all over the place," the Swazi Observer newspaper reported.
The Swaziland Solidarity Network, a South Africa-based pro-democracy Swazi group, announced Saturday that the death toll from the horrific truck crash has increased to 65.
"We can now confirm that 65 young girls have perished on that accident even those that we admitted which earlier on were reported critical injured. We want to extend our deepest to their families," Lucky Lukhele of Swaziland Solidarity Network told Eyewitness News.
Thousands of topless virgin girls take part in the dance ceremony every year to impress their King, BBC News reported. The Swazi King chooses his new wife during the dance each year.
Swaziland's present monarch King Mswati III is set to choose his new wife during this year's reed dance festival on Monday, according to DPA. The 47-year-old monarch already has more than a dozen wives.
