In South Africa's Limpopo province, a tragic incident unfolded as a bus carrying worshippers to an Easter festival careened off a mountain pass bridge, igniting in flames and claiming the lives of at least 45 individuals, authorities reported on Thursday.
The lone survivor, an 8-year-old child, sustained serious injuries and was under medical care.
According to the Limpopo provincial government, the bus deviated from the Mmamatlakala bridge and plummeted 50 meters (164 feet) into a ravine before catching fire.
Despite ongoing search efforts, numerous bodies remain trapped inside the vehicle, many of them unrecognizable due to burns.
Authorities suspect the bus was en route from Botswana to Moria, a town renowned for its Easter pilgrimage.
The driver, believed to have lost control, was among the deceased.
Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga, originally in Limpopo province for a road safety campaign, diverted to the crash site.
She announced an investigation into the accident's cause and extended her sympathies to the victims' families.
Easter holidays in South Africa are notorious for road accidents, with last year's Easter weekend alone claiming over 200 lives.
The Zionist Christian Church's Moria headquarters usually draws hundreds of thousands for its Easter pilgrimage, making this year's event the first since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.