(VIDEO) An 8-year-old girl, the only survivor of a bus accident in South Africa. 45 people died

A serious road accident happened in South Africa, as a result of which 45 people died, only an 8-year-old girl escaped with her life.

A bus hit the parapet of a bridge and fell into a ravine, where it caught fire, the country’s transport department said Thursday. Images of the scene broadcast by local news channel eNCA show a charred and wrecked bus at the bottom of a rocky ditch in a mountainous area near Mokopane, South Africa.

The cause of the accident is under investigation, South African Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga said. “Some bodies were burnt beyond recognition,” the Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety said in a statement. Others were caught in the debris, while some were scattered around the crash site. The 8-year-old girl was taken to the hospital. Another woman died after being airlifted from the crash site, Chikunga said, according to the Washington Post.

Extra care over the Easter weekend

The bus was traveling from Botswana to Moria, a town in South Africa’s northeastern Limpopo province, South Africa’s Department of Transport said. According to Limpopo officials, the 46 passengers were on their way to a church service over the Easter weekend.

“I extend my sincere condolences to the families affected by the tragic bus accident,” Chikunga said at the scene of the accident. “Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time.” The minister urged people to drive responsibly, with increased vigilance, given that more people are on the roads over the Easter weekend. The minister had announced the launch of an “Easter Road Safety Campaign” just eight days before, citing increased danger due to heavier traffic and holiday festivities. The campaign began with prayer sessions at various locations where accidents are common, the government said.

Also read; Work begins at the Craiova Regional Hospital! Which company got hold of the first contract