Bus carrying Easter worshippers falls off cliff killing 45 people in South Africa (video)

Black smoke engulfed the passenger bus. 45 people died in the accident.

At least 45 Christian worshippers tragically lost their lives after a bus en route to an Easter conference in South Africa plunged 50 meters off a cliff. The only survivor was an eight-year-old girl, who has been airlifted to a hospital.

According to the Department of Transport and Community (DTC), the driver lost control while traversing the mountainous region of Mmamatlakala in Limpopo, South Africa's northernmost province bordering Botswana, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. The bus careened off a bridge, landing on a rocky surface 50 meters below and catching fire.

Search operations were ongoing late into Thursday night, the provincial government said

Rescue workers described the scene as harrowing, with passengers burned beyond recognition, some trapped in debris, and others scattered around.

The bus was traveling over 300 miles from Gaborone, Botswana's capital, to Moria, South Africa, for an Easter service. The incident occurred between Mokopane and Marken, approximately 187 miles from Johannesburg, when the wheels veered off course.

Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga expressed heartfelt condolences to the affected families, urging responsible driving during the Easter weekend.

The South African government has pledged to assist in repatriating the bodies and conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the tragedy.

The bus plunged into a ravine after the driver lost control of the vehicle and collided with barriers on the bridge

Earlier, President Cyril Ramaphosa had urged caution during Easter, emphasizing the importance of safety to avoid road tragedies.

The Zionist Christian Church has its headquarters in Moria and its Easter pilgrimage attracts hundreds of thousands of people from across South Africa and neighboring countries.

This year is the first time the Easter pilgrimage to Moria is set to go ahead since the COVID-19 pandemic.