Nine people drowned on Wednesday night after a Toyota Noah they were travelling in was swept away while trying to cross a flooded bridge in Filabusi.
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the incident happened around 10 PM on the Tshangamutope River in the Mukula area.
Nyathi said the driver had got out to check the water level, leaving the keys in the ignition.
While he was away, one of the passengers drove the vehicle onto the flooded bridge, where it was carried away by the current and submerged, trapping everyone inside. Said Nyathi:
“The ZRP confirms a tragic incident in which nine people drowned after a Toyota Noah vehicle was swept away while attempting to cross a flooded Tshangamutope River, Mukula area, Filabusi, on 22/01/ 2026 at around 2200 hours.
“The driver had disembarked to assess the water level, leaving the keys in the ignition.
“One of the passengers then drove the vehicle into the flooded bridge, where it was swept away and submerged, trapping all the occupants.
“On 23 /01/2026, bodies were retrieved with the assistance of the community.
“The victims comprise five female adults, two male adults, one female juvenile and a male toddler.
“Two of the victims have been positively identified, while efforts to identify the remaining victims are ongoing.
“Bodies were conveyed to Filabusi District Hospital mortuary for post-mortem. More details will be released in due course.”
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