YAOUNDE, Feb. 29 (Xinhua) -- Twelve people died Thursday in a traffic accident in Maroua, capital of the Far North region of Cameroon, announced Midjiyawa Bakari, the region's governor.

A bus bound for Maroua from Mokolo in the Mayo-Tsanaga department was involved in the fatal accident 10 km from Maroua around 7:00 p.m. Thursday local time.

According to the governor, who visited the scene, the toll was heavy with 12 dead, including eight women and four children, and 22 injured.

The injured were transferred to the Maroua regional hospital, where measures were taken to ensure their effective care. The bodies of the dead were taken to the morgue of the Maroua regional hospital.

According to the initial findings of the administrative authority, the accident was caused by mechanical failure and overloading. "At a glance, the tires were bursting and the vehicle was overloaded. It has a capacity of 22 seats, and at the count, 34 people were on board," said the governor.

Most of those on board were refugees who had gone to the Minawaoua refugee camp to collect their monthly rations. Enditem

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