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Ambulance in South Africa (archive image): At least 45 people were killed in the bus accident and one child suffered serious injuries
Photo: Nardus Engelbrecht/AP
At least 45 people were killed and another seriously injured in a bus accident in South Africa. As the South African Ministry of Transport announced, the only known survivor of the accident in the north of the country is an eight-year-old child.
The bus was on its way from Botswana to Moria, South Africa, when the driver apparently lost control of the vehicle on a bridge in Limpopo province. According to the ministry, the bus hit the safety barriers and plunged down the ravine before hitting the ground and catching fire.
Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga went to the scene of the accident on Thursday and promised a comprehensive investigation into the accident. The exact cause of the accident is still being determined.
The town of Moria in Limpopo Province is known as a place of pilgrimage for Christians and a popular destination over the Easter holidays. Just a few hours before the accident, President Cyril Ramaphosa had called on his compatriots in a statement to "do their best to ensure that the Easter holidays are safe" with a view to upcoming trips.
spr/dpa/AFP