At least 16 persons died and 55 others wounded in a road accident on Saturday evening in Makamba province of southern Burundi, a local official said on Sunday, Xinhua reported.

The accident happened at 7:45pm local time when a truck transporting passengers from a wedding ceremony at Canda village broke a wooden bridge and fell down to a river.

Thirteen people died on the spot, a child was found drowned later, and another two victims died in hospital.

The truck driver ran away after the accident.