Mourning declared after mass road deaths in Malawi

Malawi’s President, Lazarus Chakwera, has declared two days of national mourning in honour of 21 people killed in a horrific road accident on Sunday.

The 18 women and three babies were killed when a bus they were travelling in hit a stationary truck and was then hit by another vehicle.

They were travelling on the main road connecting the capital, Lilongwe, to the southern city of Blantyre.

Most were killed on the spot, but three of the victims died in hospital. Another eight people are being treated for multiple injuries.

President Chakwera has ordered that all national flags should fly at half-mast during the mourning period.