Tragedy struck in South Africa as a bus crash claimed the lives of 45 passengers on Thursday.
The bus, which careened through a barrier on a bridge, tragically caught fire after plunging off the bridge in the Northeastern Limpopo province, approximately 300km north of Johannesburg.
According to BBC, the only survivor of the accident is an eight-year-old child who sustained multiple injuries.
The passengers were identified as pilgrims en route from Botswana’s capital, Gaborone, to an Easter service in Moria town.
The vehicle lost control, veering off a bridge on the Mmamatlakala mountain pass between Mokopane and Marken, around 300km (190 miles) north of Johannesburg, as reported by South African public broadcaster SABC.
Following a visit to the scene, Sindisiwe Chikunga, South Africa’s Minister of Transportation, disclosed plans for a thorough investigation to ascertain the cause of the tragedy.
Chikunga conveyed, “Our sympathies and prayers are with you during this challenging period.
“We reiterate the call for responsible driving always, especially with more individuals traversing our roads this Easter weekend.”
In his Easter communication to South Africans, President Cyril Ramaphosa urged citizens to collectively strive for a safer Easter.