South Africa bus crash kills 45 Easter pilgrims, transport ministry says
- Seriously injured 8-year-old child is sole survivor after bus plunged off a bridge into a ravine and caught fire in northern province of Limpopo
- Recovery operations were ongoing with some bodies burned beyond recognition and others trapped inside the debris or scattered over the crash scene
A bus crash in South Africa’s northern province of Limpopo resulted in 45 deaths and one serious injury, South Africa’s Department of Transport said on Thursday.
The driver lost control and collided with barriers on a bridge near Mamatlakala, causing the bus to go over the bridge and hit the ground, catching fire, according to a statement by the transport department.
The bus was taking Easter pilgrims from Botswana, a landlocked country in southern Africa, to Moria, a town in Limpopo, it added.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa sent his condolences to Botswana and pledged support to the country, his office said in a statement.
Only an eight-year-old child survived the crash and was receiving medical attention at a nearby hospital, Limpopo’s transport department said in a separate statement.
Some bodies were burned beyond recognition while others were trapped inside the debris or scattered on the scene, the provincial department said.
“It is alleged that the driver lost control, colliding with barriers on the bridge causing the bus to go over the bridge and hitting the ground, where it caught fire,” the statement said.
