Bus plunges off bridge in South Africa, killing 45 people

A bus carrying worshippers to an Easter festival in South Africa crashed, killing at least 45 people. The only survivor was an eight-year-old child. The bus veered off a bridge, plunged into a ravine, and burst into flames. Search operations continue, with many bodies burned beyond recognition. The bus was believed to be traveling from Botswana to Moria.

A bus carrying worshippers headed to an Easter festival plunged off a bridge on a mountain pass and burst into flames in South Africa Thursday, killing at least 45 people, authorities said.

The only survivor of the crash was an eight-year-old child, who was receiving medical attention, according to authorities in the northern province of Limpopo.

The Limpopo provincial government said the bus veered off the Mmamatlakala bridge and plunged 164 feet into a ravine before busting into flames.

Search operations were ongoing, the provincial government said, but many bodies were burned beyond recognition and still trapped inside the vehicle.

Authorities said they believe the bus was travelling from the neighbouring country of Botswana to the town of Moria, which hosts a popular Easter pilgrimage.