A tragic bus accident occurred in northern South Africa, claiming the lives of 45 pilgrims from Botswana who were en route to Easter festivities, authorities reported on Thursday.
The only survivor, an eight-year-old girl, is currently receiving medical treatment in the hospital.
According to South African police, the crash took the lives of 31 female and 15 male passengers from Botswana when the driver lost control of the bus, colliding with barriers on a bridge near Mamatlakala. Subsequently, the bus plummeted from the bridge, igniting upon impact with the ground.
Footage from Reuters TV captured the devastation at the scene, showing a twisted wreckage of the bus amidst scattered personal belongings.
Authorities are still conducting search operations at the site for any additional casualties, as stated in a police release.
All the victims hailed from the village of Molepolole near the capital city of Botswana, Gaborone, the authorities confirmed. The severity of the crash left some bodies unrecognizable due to burns, while others remained trapped within the debris or scattered around the area. The police announced the initiation of the process to identify and repatriate the deceased.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, as conveyed through a statement from his office.
The lone survivor, the young girl, is currently under medical care at a nearby hospital, as confirmed by the Department of Transport for the Limpopo region.
