42 killed in bus crash on mountain pass in South Africa

At least 42 people died when a bus plunged down a steep embankment in a mountainous area of northern South Africa, officials said on Monday.

The accident happened Sunday along the N1 highway near Louis Trichardt, roughly 400 kilometers north of the capital, Pretoria. The bus, which had been traveling from South Africa’s Eastern Cape, veered off the road while navigating a mountain pass and overturned on a slope, AP reports.

Authorities say the vehicle was carrying Zimbabwean and Malawian nationals who were returning to their home countries. Images released from the scene show the blue bus lying on its side in the embankment.

Simon Zwane, a spokesperson for the Road Traffic Management Corporation, confirmed 42 deaths but said the number of casualties and injuries is still being verified. Several survivors were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment, though the total number of injured passengers has not yet been disclosed.

Local and national officials have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash.

SR