At least 40 people have been confirmed dead following a tragic bus accident on Sunday, October 12, in Limpopo province, South Africa.
The accident, which took place approximately 90 kilometers from the South Africa-Zimbabwe border, has left multiple nations in mourning, with fatalities including Malawian and Zimbabwean nationals who were residing in South Africa.
The bus, traveling from Gqeberha in South Africa to Zimbabwe, reportedly veered off the road and plunged down an embankment after the driver lost control.
While the exact cause of the crash is yet to be fully determined, authorities suspect that either a mechanical failure or driver fatigue may have played a role in the incident.
Violet Mathye, South Africa’s transport minister for Limpopo, confirmed the grim toll, stating, “Emergency services are still working at the scene, but 40 bodies have been confirmed so far.”
She also expressed condolences for the victims and their families, as the search and rescue efforts continued at the scene of the crash.
The identities of the victims are still being verified, though reports indicate that many of the deceased were migrant workers from neighboring Zimbabwe and Malawi.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa described the accident as a “devastating tragedy” for the three affected countries.
In a statement, Ramaphosa extended his sympathies to the families of the victims and urged all road users to take extra precautions while traveling, emphasizing the need for heightened safety measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
The crash is the latest in a series of fatal accidents that have plagued South Africa’s roadways. Despite having one of the most extensive and modern road networks in Africa, the country struggles with a high rate of traffic fatalities.
In a similar incident last year, 45 people, mostly from Botswana, lost their lives when a bus carrying Easter churchgoers plunged into a ravine in Limpopo.
As emergency services continue their work at the scene, the tragedy has sparked renewed calls for improved road safety measures and better oversight of public transport operators in the region.
The incident is expected to fuel further discussions on how to curb the growing number of fatalities on South African roads.
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