bus falls from bridge, killing at least 45 people

Almost all passengers on this bus linking Botswana to South Africa died after an accident on Thursday.

A tragic road accident occurred in South Africa on Thursday March 28. Almost all of the passengers on a bus, at least 45 people, died, the Ministry of Transport announced in a press release. The vehicle fell from a bridge about fifty meters high, before crashing into a ravine. According to Pretoria, the bus was carrying passengers from Botswana to Moria, in northern South Africa.

“The driver apparently lost control of his vehicle, hitting the safety barriers on the bridge. The bus went over the bridge and hit the ground, where it caught fire”, specified the ministry. The bus was carrying a total of 46 passengers including the driver. Only one person, an eight-year-old child, survived the crash, according to the provincial Department of Transportation. He was taken to hospital.

The accident occurred on a huge suspension bridge between two hills near Mmamatlakala, in Limpopo province, more than 300 km from Johannesburg. The bus had a Botswanan license plate, according to local authorities. The nationality of the passengers has not yet been confirmed.

The Minister of Transport, Sindisiwe Chikunga, who visited the site during the day, promised a thorough investigation into the causes of the accident. South Africa has one of the most developed road networks on the continent, but is among the worst performers in terms of road safety.