A bus crashed on the N1 North near Ingwe Lodge in Musina. Image credit: Arrive Alive
42 people have died in the horrifying bus crash on the N1 freeway outside Makhado (formerly Louis Trichardt). The Limpopo Department of Transport has confirmed that seven children were among the dead, including a 10-month-old infant who passed away from injuries after being taken to the hospital.
A DNC Coaches bus transporting Malawian and Zimbabwean citizens swerved over a high mountain pass and fell down a bank on the N1 North near Ingwe Lodge on Sunday afternoon/evening. From the Eastern Cape/Johannesburg, the bus was making the long journey back to their home nations.
Investigation into the Cause
Violet Mathye, MEC for Transport and Community Safety in the Limpopo province, acknowledged the heartbreaking numbers and offered her condolences to the impacted nations.
Mathye informed the media, “We have reported 38 injuries, but sadly, a 10-month-old baby passed away after being referred to hospital,” adding that there were 42 confirmed deaths.
The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) crash investigators are still looking into what caused the collision, even though no other vehicles were involved. Given that the bus had to travel more than 2,100 kilometers from Gqeberha to Harare, MEC Mathye proposed that driver weariness or a mechanical issue could have been the cause.
The victims identified so far include 18 women and 17 men.
Premier Visits Scene and Survivors
In order to meet with rescue crews and survivors, Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba and a number of MECs are planning to visit the crash scene and hospitals on Monday.
Rescue efforts persisted late into the night, according to Ndavhe Ramakuela, a spokesman for the provincial government. The survivors were taken to hospitals in Louis Trichardt, Siloam, Elim, and Tshilidzini, including six severely injured, thirty-one badly injured, and twelve mildly damaged passengers.
“This tragedy is heartbreaking.” Premier Ramathuba expressed his sincere sympathies to the impacted families in Malawi and Zimbabwe, saying, “It is indescribable to lose so many lives in one incident.”
Consular representatives from Malawi and Zimbabwe are on the ground helping the disaster-affected families, and the province administration is offering survivors psychosocial support.
Traffic is being rerouted via the Witvlag and Williespoort turnoffs, while the N1 North is still closed due to the ongoing scene.
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