At least 51 people died on Thursday when a bus and a truck collided about 100 km (60 miles) north of Zambian capital Lusaka, police said.
Police spokeswoman Elizabeth Kanjela said the death toll could rise as soldiers and firefighters were still checking the wreckage for trapped bodies.
"So far we have counted 51 bodies but there could be one or two people more that are still trapped," Kanjela said. The cause of the accident was under investigation, she said.
According to reports, the bus was operated by the Zambia Postal Service, which provides passenger services on buses which carry post, and was full of people.
There was serious speeding by all the vehicles involved, Harry Kalaba - an official in the vice-president's office - told AFP news agency from the crash site.
A survivor was quoted as saying the bus had been swerving to avoid an oncoming vehicle.
Some 22 dazed or unconscious survivors were being treated in a nearby missionary hospital, AFP said, while more seriously injured casualties had been taken to hospital in Lusaka.
President Michael Sata conveyed his government's "deepest condolences to the beloved families on the death of their beloved ones" and wished the injured a speedy recovery, AFP said.
Police are investigating the cause of the crash, Ms Kanjela said.
Zambian roads are extremely dangerous and buses and other vehicles are often overloaded or poorly maintained.
Thursday 7 February 2013
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/07/us-zambia-accident-idUSBRE9160JB20130207
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21373965
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