bAt least 45 people were killed and another seriously injured in a bus accident in South Africa. The bus fell about 50 meters from a bridge in South Africa's northern Limpopo province and then plunged into a ravine, the transport ministry said on Thursday.
According to information, the bus was apparently traveling from the neighboring country of Botswana to Moria in the north of South Africa. The town of Moria in Limpopo province is known as a place of Christian pilgrimage and a popular place during Easter.
As the ministry explained in more detail, the driver apparently lost control of his vehicle and crashed into the guardrails on the bridge. The bus then flipped over a bridge and hit the ground in a ravine, where it eventually caught fire. The exact cause of the accident is still being clarified.
The vehicle had a Botswana license plate and the authorities confirmed that the nationalities of the occupants were still being checked. The only survivor is an eight-year-old child who was taken to hospital, according to the local transport authority.
The accident happened on a bridge between two mountains near the town of Mmamatlakala, about 300 kilometers north of Johannesburg. Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga visited the accident site on Thursday and promised a comprehensive investigation into the accident.
South Africa has one of the most developed road networks in Africa. However, road safety is poor in the country. Just hours before the accident, President Cyril Ramaphosa, in a statement, called on his countrymen to do their best to have a safe Easter in view of the upcoming trips.