The Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund has confirmed that 20 people were involved in the Mariental car accident, with 16 fatalities.

MVA Fund CEO Rosalia Martins-Hausiku informed NBC News that 13 victims died at the scene, one at Mariental State Hospital, another en route to Windhoek, and one more in a Windhoek hospital.

The Fund noted it is unclear how many passengers were in each vehicle involved.

Martins-Hausiku stated that the speed of the vehicles at the time of the crash has not yet been established, as this is part of the ongoing police investigation.

The MVA Fund's role at the crash scene was limited to emergency response and medical care.

Martins-Hausiku said the Namibian police will provide detailed findings on the cause of the crash, including whether overloading was a factor.

The Fund has begun contacting families of the deceased to process funeral claims and confirmed that the injured are receiving treatment in Windhoek hospitals.

The MVA Fund said stakeholders will assess the crash circumstances before making recommendations to prevent similar incidents.

The Ministry of Safety and Security is expected to hold a press conference at 16:00 this afternoon to provide an update.