At least 45 other people were killed Thursday when a bus carrying worshippers to an Easter birthday party in South Africa crashed into a bridge over a mountain pass and burst into flames, police said.
Authorities in the northern province of Limpopo said an 8-year-old boy is the only survivor of the incident and is receiving medical attention. According to them, the youths were seriously injured.
The bus caught fire after leaving the Mmamatlakala Bridge and falling 50 meters (164 feet) into a ravine, according to the Limpopo provincial administration.
The provincial government said the search was still ongoing, but that several of the victims were badly charred and still inside the vehicle.
According to authorities, the bus was most likely headed to the village of Moria, site of a well-known Easter pilgrimage, from neighboring Botswana. They said the motorist appeared to have lost and was among the victims.
The National Department of Transport reported that during a road protection crusade in Limpopo province, Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga replaced his plans and headed to the scene of the collision. He conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims and said an investigation was underway to determine the reasons for the tragedy.
Since Easter is a particularly busy and dangerous time of year for road trips, the South African government issues warnings about the risk of road injuries during this time. More than two hundred people died from road injuries over the Easter weekend last year.
The Christian Zionist Church is headquartered in Moria and its Easter pilgrimage attracts thousands of people from all over South Africa and neighboring countries. This year marks the first time the Easter pilgrimage to Moria has taken place since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Find us on YouTube