A bus that careened off a excessive overpass in South Africa and plunged right into a rocky ravine, killing 45 folks and leaving solely an 8-year-old woman alive, was carrying Christian worshipers from neighboring Botswana on an annual pilgrimage.
The pilgrims had by no means earlier than been pushed on that route over the treacherous, winding mountain street the place the crash occurred, mentioned Segametsi David, a church elder with St. Engenas Zion Christian Church, in Molepolole, a village in Botswana.
“We cried last night,” mentioned Ms. David, who on Friday was visiting the households of victims within the village. “Right now, we don’t have tears. We are just trying to encourage those that lost loved ones. But it’s hard.”
The 8-year-old woman who survived was in secure situation with minor accidents on Friday, mentioned the well being authorities in Limpopo Province, in northeastern South Africa, the place the crash occurred.
The bus plunged 165 ft off an overpass and crashed into the ravine, the place it burst into flames. The driver additionally died, officers mentioned.
Investigators have been nonetheless selecting by way of the wreckage to get well our bodies and decide the reason for the crash. The authorities mentioned that the motive force had misplaced management on a pointy flip over a cross in Mmamatlakala Mountain. The police have been investigating the crash as a case of culpable murder, in response to an announcement, although they didn’t present additional particulars.
The woman who survived grew up within the church as a result of her dad and mom have been very energetic and she or he was “passionate about God,” Ms. David mentioned. She was touring to South Africa along with her grandmother, Ms. David mentioned.
Emergency responders discovered the woman outdoors the bus with minor lacerations to her arms, legs, head and again, mentioned Thilivhali Muavha, a spokesman for Dr. Phophi Ramathuba, the official overseeing the Department of Health in Limpopo Province.
Mr. Muavha mentioned the authorities had not but decided how the woman, who has not been publicly recognized, was in a position to survive such a devastating crash.
“All we can say is that we are happy that she was found alive,” he mentioned.
The South African police confirmed on Friday that each one 45 passengers on the bus, together with the motive force, have been residents of Botswana making the journey to South Africa from Molepolole, a village that’s thought of the gateway to the huge Kalahari Desert.
As of Friday afternoon, 34 our bodies had been recovered, the police mentioned. Only 9 of them have been identifiable, with the others burned past recognition.
The tragedy solid a cloud over Botswana, a closely Christian nation of about 2.5 million that was making ready to rejoice the Easter weekend.
The Zion Christian Church is the most important denomination in southern Africa. The annual Easter pilgrimage on the church’s headquarters in Moria, South Africa, sometimes attracts thousands and thousands of tourists.
“It’s a catastrophe,” mentioned Lemogang Kwape, Botswana’s international minister. “We are badly affected by what happened, especially that people were going to enjoy themselves in the Lord.”
Mr. Kwape mentioned he had obtained a name from his South African counterpart, Naledi Pandor, to replace him on the scenario. The Zion church shouldn’t be solely a serious spiritual denomination in Botswana, however it’s also concerned in group improvement, he mentioned, together with constructing medical clinics.
Africa has traditionally had among the many highest charges of street fatalities on this planet, in response to information from the World Bank and the World Health Organization.
Source: www.nytimes.com