Five trucks overturn in Swaziland

Within the space of 24 hours, five large trucks bearing iron ore tailings across much of Swaziland overturned on the same stretch of hilly road, spilling their contents and cutting off highway access to Mbabane from the east. All the trucks were travelling down the steep Malagwane Hill east of the capital, and three of them were in a convoy when the rear vehicle experienced brake failure. The local press reported that the trucks, belonging to Transportes Lalgy of Matola, Mozambique, were supposed to be separated by ten-minute intervals. A fourth truck overturned nearby, while a fifth overturned on the same stretch of road the day before. Drivers were not seriously injured and no casualties were reported. Road authorities suggested that the Mozambican drivers were unfamiliar with the steep switchback highway and its effect on the brakes of heavy load-bearing vehicles. “This was an accident waiting to happen. The trucks travel day and night and they over-speed,” said Mbabane MP Robert Magongo. Westbound traffic into Mbabane was cut off for about nine hours as the highway was cleared of trucks and iron ore debris.