Survived with Only Minor Lacerations
45 out of 46 People Dead
In South Africa, a bus plunged 50 meters down a ravine, resulting in the deaths of 45 out of 46 passengers, with only an 8-year-old girl surviving. The incident has been described as a 'miracle.'
The New York Times (NYT) reported on the morning of the 28th (local time) that a bus lost control on a sharp curve on a road in Emmamatrakala Mountain in northeastern South Africa and fell off a bridge. The bus caught fire upon crashing, killing the driver and 44 passengers, totaling 45 fatalities. Some bodies were reported to be burned beyond recognition. However, the sole survivor, 8-year-old Lorin Siako, sustained only minor injuries and was immediately transported to a hospital upon discovery.
Lorin had boarded the bus with her grandmother to attend the Easter event, which had been suspended for four years due to COVID-19 and recently resumed. Lorin’s mother, Gaolebale Siako, told the NYT in an interview, "It is difficult to explain how my daughter got off that bus," adding, "It is heartbreaking to have lost my mother and others, but it is a comfort that my daughter survived." Lorin’s mother’s cousin, Kavelo Joseph Selome, said, "No one can explain this miracle."
Local health authorities stated, "Lorin escaped the accident bus with only minor lacerations on her arms, legs, and head." The local Department of Transportation estimated that the driver lost control, collided with the bridge’s guardrail, causing the bus to fall off the bridge and hit the ground, which led to the fire.
The accident occurred shortly after South African President Cyril Ramaphosa urged for Easter traffic safety. Just hours before the crash, President Ramaphosa issued a statement saying, "Let us do our best to make this Easter a safe Easter," making the tragedy even more poignant.
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