A bus plunged off a cliff in Limpopo, South Africa's northern province. The country's transport minister extended condolences to the victims' families.

On Thursday, tragedy struck as a bus transporting worshippers en route to an Easter festival careened off a bridge along a mountain pass in South Africa, erupting into flames. Authorities confirmed the devastating loss of at least 45 lives in the incident.

Remarkably, the sole survivor, an 8-year-old child, was undergoing medical treatment, albeit with serious injuries, as reported by officials in the northern province of Limpopo.

The Limpopo provincial government disclosed that the bus tragically veered off the Mmamatlakala bridge, plummeting 50 meters (164 feet) into a ravine before engulfing in flames.

The provincial government stated that search operations were ongoing; however, many bodies were burned beyond recognition and remained trapped inside the vehicle.

Authorities indicated that they believe the bus was traveling from the neighboring country of Botswana to the town of Moria, renowned for hosting a popular Easter pilgrimage. They suggested that the driver lost control, and tragically, was among the deceased.

Minister of Transport Sindisiwe Chikunga, who was in Limpopo province for a road safety campaign, altered her plans to visit the crash scene, as confirmed by the national Department of Transport. She noted that an investigation into the crash's cause was underway and extended her condolences to the families of the victims.

The South African government frequently emphasizes the risk of road accidents during the Easter holidays, a period known for increased traffic and hazards. Last year, over 200 individuals lost their lives in road crashes over the Easter weekend alone.

Moria, hosting the headquarters of the Zionist Christian Church, draws hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from South Africa and neighboring countries during Easter. Notably, this year marks the first Easter pilgrimage since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

In 2023, a tragic head-on collision occurred between a tour bus and a cash-in-transit truck, resulting in the loss of 20 lives and leaving at least 60 others Injured.

Following the collision, police divers commenced a search along the river adjacent to the highway "for people who might have been swept away," as reported by the regional transport department in a statement on Tuesday.

ER24, an emergency medical care company, stated that after the crash, the tour bus rolled from a bridge on the N1 freeway into a river below, with their paramedics present at the scene.