A bus falls around fifty meters and crashes to the ground in South Africa: at least 45 dead and an 8-year-old survivor

The bus accident left 45 dead, almost all passengers. Twitter Screenshot – Heidi Giokos

This Thursday, March 28, 2024, a bus fell from a bridge about fifty meters high while it was traveling in Botswana and the town of Moria in South Africa . 45 people died.

The accident of a bus near the town of Mamatlakala, in the north of South Africa, left at least 45 dead, almost all of the passengers, reported this Thursday 28’ ;nbsp;March 2024, the Ministry of Transport. The driver lost control of the vehicle on a bridge, from where the bus fell about fifty meters high, before catching fire when landing below.

🇿🇦🚍🚨Plus de 45 personnes auraient trouvé la mort dans un accident de bus en Afrique du Sud.

Selon les médias, le bus est tombé ce matin d'un pont et a pris feu dans la région de Ga-Mmamatlakala, dans le district de Waterberg.

Images tirées des réseaux sociaux pic.twitter.com/08OoTMcVqO

— ted moloubakotty (@moloubakotty) March 28, 2024

"He would have hit the safety barriers on the bridge. The bus went over the bridge and hit the ground, where it caught fire", the ministry said, quoted by BFMTV.

BREAKING: 45 people die in a bus crash. One 8 year old survived. Bus was traveling from Botswana to Moria. Bus caught fire when it crashed and it’s believed most people perished to death. #eNCA #Easter pic.twitter.com/oRSiEsEU6J

— Heidi Giokos (@HeidiGiokos) March 28, 2024

In a statement, the ministry said the bus was carrying passengers from Botswana to the South African town of Moria in the northern Limpopo province.

STATEMENT:

MINISTER OF TRANSPORT EXPRESSES CONDOLENCES FOR VICTIMS OF MAMATLAKALA LIMPOPO BUS CRASH TRAGEDY pic.twitter.com/Y4eeHrzpOz

— Department of Transport (@Dotransport) March 28, 2024

A child of eight survived

Only one person survived this tragedy. This is an eight-year-old child. He was taken to hospital, according to the provincial Department of Transportation.

"Some bodies have been burned beyond recognition, others are trapped under debris, and still others are scattered on the scene" the department said in a statement, adding that rescue operations continued until late in the evening.

A thorough investigation promised

The Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga, who visited the site during the day, promised a thorough investigation into the causes of the accident, reports West France.

South Africa has one of the most developed road networks on the continent but is among the worst performers in terms of road safety.