The death toll from yesterday’s bus crash on the N1 in Louis Trichardt in Limpopo is 42. The passengers lost their lives when a bus lost control, fell down the embankment and landed on its roof on the trachearous road on the mountains. The Limpopo Transport department says the deceased are 18 women, 17 men and seven children. Emergency services personnel, police and traffic officers are still at the scene. The bus was travelling from Gqeberha to Malawi and Zimbabwe.The road remains closed on both directions.
The N1 national road between Louis Trichardt and Musina has reportedly reopened (for now) following yesterday afternoon’s fatal bus accident. At the time of going to press, the death toll stood at 42, with scores of passengers still receiving medical attention.
The accident occurred late Sunday afternoon (12 October) at the notorious hairpin bend near the Ingwe Hotel after the driver of the bus allegedly lost control of the vehicle. In recent years, this specific stretch of the N1 north has been the scene of numerous fatal accidents.
Apart from the deceased, many passengers were injured and are currently receiving medical treatment at several provincial hospitals across Vhembe, including Louis Trichardt, Elim and Siloam.
The bus was en route from Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) to Zimbabwe when the accident occurred. The out-of-control bus broke through the roadside barrier before plunging down a steep embankment into a nearby riverbed, trapping many passengers beneath it.
The accident led to the busy N1 being completely closed to traffic, with motorists forced to use alternative routes along the Witvlag road via Siloam back to the N1, and via the Waterpoort road to travel north or south.
It’s believed that the bus overturned and landed on the side of the road on Sunday evening.
Emergency services are currently at the scene searching for more victims.
The road between Makhado and Musina has been closed off to traffic and motorists are urged to use alternative routes on Monday morning.
On Sunday evening, Limpopo MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Violet Mathye, visited the scene.
“The cause of the accident is still under investigation,” said Mr Tshifhiwa Dali, spokesperson for the Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety.
Limpopo Premier Phophi Ramathuba is expected to visit some of the injured passengers in hospital this morning, as well as the scene of the fatal crash.
“This is a heartbreaking tragedy. Losing so many lives in one incident is painful beyond words. On behalf of the Limpopo Provincial Government, we extend our deepest condolences to the affected families, including those in Zimbabwe and Malawi. We wish a full and speedy recovery to all survivors. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time,” said Ramathuba in a media statement.
The premier’s office is working closely with the Department of Transport and Community Safety, the Department of Health, and disaster-management teams to coordinate support. Psychosocial services are being offered to survivors, and liaison is under way with consular services from Zimbabwe and Malawi to assist affected families.
