ARUSHA, Tanzania, April 5 (Xinhua) -- At least 12 people were killed and 46 injured in a road accident on Wednesday night in western Tanzania's region of Tabora, police said on Thursday.

Wilbroad Mutafungwa, Tabora Regional Police Commander, said the accident happened at around 8 p.m. in Makomero area in Igunga District, when a bus, carrying 57 passengers, collided head-on with a lorry.

Mutafungwa said that the injured people were sent to the nearby hospital for treatment, and two of them who are seriously injured were transported to Bugando Medical Centre in Mwanza Region.

"We've launched an investigation to establish the cause of this terrible accident," said Mutafungwa, adding: "We are really hurt and disappointed at this disaster which occurred at the time when we're working hard to reduce the number of accidents."

The accident happened just few days after another road accident that killed eight people and injured 65 in north-western Tanzania's region of Kagera.