Destroyed vehicles involved in a road crash at Chamakweza, Tanzania in 2005 (Reuters)

At least 23 people were killed when a bus collided with a lorry in eastern Tanzania on Friday, according to local police.

On his account, police head of operations and training Liberatus Sabas said that "the death toll is now 23" after one of those injured died.

Fortunatus Muslim, the police chief in Morogoro's eastern region, said the accident happened in Melela Kibaoni, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) west of the coastal city and economic hub Dar es Salaam.

"The truck driver, who was heading from the Dar es Salaam port to the Democratic Republic of Congo, was overtaking a motorbike when the two vehicles collided head-on," he said.

He added that the bus was traveling in the opposite direction, from the western city of Mbeya to the coastal city of Tanga.

Late Friday, the presidency announced that 22 people had died and another 38 had been injured in the crash.

After the latest death, 37 remained wounded on Saturday.

"Three injured have been transferred to Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam for further treatment," Sabas added.

On Monday, four people were killed in a coach accident near the Zambian border outside the southwestern town of Tunduma on their way to Dar es Salaam.

It is worth mentioning that the World Health Organization reported 3,256 traffic accident deaths in Tanzania in 2016, but estimated there were closer to 16,000 in its 2018 global report on road safety.