- Written by Ferran Chatterjee
- BBC news
image source, Heidi Giokos
Forty-five people were killed in South Africa after the bus they were riding on plunged some 50 meters (165 feet) into a ravine, authorities said.
The only survivor, an 8-year-old girl, was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
A bus crashed through a fence and burst into flames in the northeastern province of Limpopo.
The passengers were pilgrims from Botswana's capital Gaborone heading to Easter services in the town of Moria.
South African public broadcaster SABC said the vehicle lost control and fell off a bridge on the Mamatlakara Pass between Mokopane and Markeng, about 300 kilometers north of Johannesburg.
Rescue efforts continued late Thursday night, with some of the dead reportedly surrounded by debris and difficult to reach.
image source, Limpopo Transport Authority
Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga, who was at the scene of the incident, said: “I would like to express my deepest condolences to the families affected by the tragic bus accident.''
She said the South African government would assist in repatriating the bodies and conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the crash.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with you all during this difficult time,” she added. “As more people take to the roads this Easter weekend, we continue to urge everyone to remain vigilant and drive responsibly.”
South Africa's road safety record is poor.
In his Easter message released on the same day, President Cyril Ramaphosa called on people to “do our best to have a safe Easter.”
He added: “This is not the time to sit and wait for statistics on road tragedies and injuries.”
