A tragic bus accident in South Africa’s Limpopo province has left 45 dead and one critically injured, according to a statement from the South African Department of Transport on Thursday.
The tragic incident occurred when the bus driver lost control of the vehicle, leading to a collision with the guardrails of the bridge at Mamatlakala. The impact caused the bus to slide off the bridge, fall to the ground, and catch fire, further exacerbating the disaster, as detailed in a statement from the Ministry of Transport.
Reports indicate that the bus was transporting Easter pilgrims from Botswana, a landlocked country in southern Africa, to Moria, a town located in Limpopo.
In response to the heartbreaking event, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed his condolences to Botswana and vowed to extend support to the grieving nation, his office said in a formal statement.
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Tragically, of the passengers on board the ill-fated bus, only an eight-year-old child survived the accident. The survivor is currently receiving medical attention at a nearby hospital, according to a separate statement issued by the Limpopo Department of Transport.
The aftermath of the accident was marked by scenes of utter devastation, with some bodies burnt beyond recognition while others were left trapped in the wreckage or scattered around the crash site, the provincial Department of Transport lamented.
As authorities continue to investigate the circumstances of the incident, the nation mourns the loss of life and grapples with the profound tragedy that has befallen the Easter pilgrimage.
