The South African authorities confirmed the death of 45 people who were traveling on a bus that fell last Thursday off a cliff in the north of the country and where only an eight-year-old child was saved.
”I send my most sincere condolences to the families of the victims of this tragic bus accident. Our thoughts and prayers are with them at this very difficult time,” said South Africa’s Transport Minister, Sindisiwe Chikunga, in statements reported by local media last night.
The media had previously reported the accident, but there was no official confirmation of the death toll.
The accident occurred last Thursday morning, when the bus lost control on the Mmamatlakala bridge in the northern province of Limpopo.
When it crashed, it also burned, burning many of the passengers.
The spokesperson for the National Department of Transport, Collen Msibi, explained that the driver lost control and crashed into the bridge guardrail. The bus plunged into the ravine and caught fire when it hit the ground.
Rescue operations continued until late last night.
The vehicle, with a license plate from neighboring Botswana, supposedly came from that country to participate in religious meetings for Holy Week in the South African city of Polokwane.
The only survivor is receiving medical treatments at a nearby hospital.
The authorities have already opened an investigation into what happened, as reported by the News24 portal.
Last year, an accident in Venice left 21 dead and dozens injured after a bus fell off a bridge and caught fire.
Firefighters explained that the vehicle fell off a bridge that crossed a train track and caught fire between the towns of Mestre and Marghera, belonging to the municipality of Venice.
Children and foreign tourists were also among the victims.
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