AP
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — A bus carrying worshippers headed to an Easter competition plunged off a bridge on a mountain move and burst into flames in South Africa on Thursday, killing no less than 45 individuals, authorities mentioned.
The one survivor of the crash was an 8-year-old youngster, who was receiving medical consideration, in accordance with authorities within the northern province of Limpopo. They mentioned the kid was severely injured.
The Limpopo provincial authorities mentioned the bus veered off the Mmamatlakala bridge and plunged 50 meters (164 ft) right into a ravine earlier than busting into flames.
Search operations had been ongoing, the provincial authorities mentioned, however many our bodies had been burned past recognition and nonetheless trapped contained in the car.
Authorities mentioned they consider the bus was touring from the neighboring nation of Botswana to the city of Moria, which hosts a well-liked Easter pilgrimage. They mentioned it appeared that the motive force misplaced management and was one of many lifeless.
Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga was in Limpopo province for a highway security marketing campaign and adjusted plans to go to the crash scene, the nationwide Division of Transport mentioned. She mentioned there was an investigation underway into the reason for the crash and supplied her condolences to the households of the victims.
The South African authorities typically warns of the hazard of highway accidents throughout the Easter holidays, which is a very busy and harmful time for highway journey. Greater than 200 individuals died in highway crashes throughout the Easter weekend final yr.
The Zionist Christian Church has its headquarters in Moria and its Easter pilgrimage attracts tons of of hundreds of individuals from throughout South Africa and neighboring nations. This yr is the primary time the Easter pilgrimage to Moria is about to go forward for the reason that COVID-19 pandemic.