A collision between two Yangon Bus Service vehicles this afternoon has left at least 10 people dead and 34 injured.
The buses collided on Pyay Road, near the Taukkyan War Memorial Cemetery, in Yangon’s Mingaladon Township.
One bus was a YBS 37, which is operated by the regional government and stops only at designated bus stops. Government operated lines also do not employ “spares” to help drivers navigate. The other bus was a YBS 55, which is operated by a private company and stops according to passengers’ requests. Privately operated bus lines commonly employ “spares”.
State media have reported that the accident was caused a broken tie rod on the YBS 55, but others have blamed the driver.
Graphic photos of the aftermath are now circulating widely on social media.
The Yangon Region Transport Authority (YRTA) has abolished the 55 line, but its failure to replace the line has caused overcrowding on the 37 line in Mingaladon.
Yangon Region MP Kyaw Zeya has called on YRTA to take responsibility for the crash.
Yangon’s road accident rate was described as an “epidemic” by experts at a policy dialogue in February.
Myanmar’s roads claim an average of 12 lives every day.
Correction: Initial reports that 16 people were killed in the crash have been updated.
