A bus carrying predominantly South African mine workers collided head-on with another vehicle Sunday afternoon, resulting in at least 20 dead.
Initially, 18 employees and the driver of the other vehicle lost their lives, while four sustained serious injuries and were hospitalized, Murray & Roberts, a South African engineering and construction company, wrote in a press release. Two more individuals later succumbed to their injuries at the hospital, according to Limpopo Department of Transport (LDT).
“We offer our deepest condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives, injured and in any way impacted by this tragic accident,” Murry & Roberts wrote. “Our focus is on providing the necessary support to our employees and their families during this very difficult time.” (RELATED: Ohio School Bus Crash On First Day Of School Leaves 1 Student Dead, Over 20 Wounded)
Videos circulating on social media show bodies at the accident scene and black smoke coming from the vehicles. LDT Florence Radzilani, Executive Mayor of Vhembe, Dowelani Nenguda, Mayor of Musina Local Municipality, Cllr Godfrey Mawela, and the Senior General Manager at Venetia Mine, Ntokozo Ngema will visit the accident site Monday.
“The entourage will proceed to the Venetia Mine offices to get a full report regarding the accident,” LDT wrote.
This marks the second major bus accident with significant casualties in Limpopo in 2023. In February, around 20 lives were lost in a head-on collision between a bus and a cash-in-transit van, CNN reported.