News|TransportBus crash in South African mountains kills at least 42The bus, travelling from the Eastern Cape to Zimbabwe and Malawi, tumbled down a steep embankment.

Transport Incident Report: Bus Crash in Limpopo Province

A bus accident occurred in the northern region of South Africa, resulting in at least 42 fatalities. The incident took place on the N1 highway near Makhado in Limpopo province on Sunday evening, as the vehicle veered off a steep mountain road and overturned.

The bus was en route from Gqeberha in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province to Zimbabwe and Malawi. Emergency response teams worked overnight to extract victims and transport survivors to nearby hospitals. Over 30 injured passengers received medical treatment, and authorities are continuing efforts to locate potential survivors trapped within the bus.

The casualties comprised 18 women, 17 men, and seven children, including a 10-month-old infant. Violet Mathy, a transport official for Limpopo province, confirmed these details. The N1 highway, a critical route connecting South Africa to Zimbabwe, was closed on Monday in both directions to facilitate ongoing rescue operations.

Limpopo Premier Phophi Ramathuba visited the crash site and later met with survivors in the hospital, expressing condolences to the affected families in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Malawi. Authorities are investigating the cause of the accident, with preliminary findings suggesting driver fatigue or mechanical failure as possible factors.

The provincial government is offering counseling to survivors and coordinating with Zimbabwean and Malawian diplomatic missions to support bereaved families. This incident highlights the broader issue of road safety, as South Africa reports high numbers of road traffic fatalities annually, particularly involving long-distance buses carrying migrant workers across Southern Africa.

Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.