Except for an 8-year-old child, everyone on the bus taking believers to the Easter festival perish when it crashes off a bridge on a mountain pass and catches fire, according to authorities.
45 of the 46 people on board a bus in South Africa perished when it fell off a bridge, into a ravine, and caught fire, according to the Transport Ministry.
The only person to survive the tragedy on Thursday was an eight-year-old child who was transported to the hospital with critical injuries.
The bus collapsed from a large bridge that connected two hillsides close to Mmamatlakala in the province of Limpopo, approximately 300 kilometers north of Johannesburg.
The car was traveling from neighboring Botswana to Moria, which is located in the country’s north, according to a statement released by the ministry.
“It is alleged that the driver lost control, colliding with barriers on the bridge, causing the bus to go over the bridge and hit the ground, where it caught fire,” added the statement.
According to local police, the bus’ license plate was from Botswana, but the passengers’ nationalities were still being verified.
Limpopo’s Department of Transport said in a separate statement that rescue efforts continued until late Thursday night, with some dead charred beyond recognition and others stranded inside the rubble and strewn throughout the area.
Developed highways, inadequate security
When he visited the incident site, Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga pledged that a thorough investigation would be conducted to determine what caused it.
South Africa has one of the most advanced road systems on the continent, but it also has one of the lowest rates of road safety.
President Cyril Ramaphosa urged South Africans to take precautions when traveling during Easter week, just a few hours before the tragedy.
“Let’s try to ensure that Easter is secure this year. We don’t have to wait to see the numbers on accidents or injuries on our roads during Easter, the speaker stated in a statement.
SOURCE: TRTWORLD
