Forty-five people have tragically lost their lives after a bus carrying the individuals to an Easter celebration plunged off a cliff.
Miraculously, an eight-year-old girl was the only person to survive the tragedy.
The Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety announced in a Facebook post that 45 individuals had lost their lives in a devastating bus accident on the Mma Matlakala Bridge - located between Marken and Mokopane in Limpopo Province, South Africa.
The incident occurred approximately 200 miles north of Johannesburg on Thursday (March 28).
Per PEOPLE, reports from the South African Broadcasting Corporation state that the bus was en route from Gaborone, Botswana, to a church in Moira, Limpopo Province, for Easter celebrations.
The fatal incident unfolded when the driver reportedly lost control of the bus, causing it to plummet approximately 50 meters (164 feet) below the bridge onto a rocky surface, where it subsequently caught fire.
Rescue teams faced a harrowing scene upon arrival, with some victims' bodies burned beyond recognition, while others were trapped in debris or scattered across the crash site.
The sole survivor - an 8-year-old girl - sustained serious injuries and was promptly transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Colin Msibi - a spokesperson for the Department of Transport - had told the BBC's Newsday that the child is currently "in a stable condition".
Sharing the current beliefs on how the child survived, Msibi added "What we suspect is that when the bus hit the barrier of the bridge, the child was ejected out of the bus, and that is how the child was able to survive."
BBC News reports that, at this time, authorities have taken 34 body bags from the scene - but only nine of the bodies are able to be identified.
Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga, the Transport Minister, expressed her condolences to the affected families and urged responsible driving, especially during the Easter weekend, when road traffic typically increases.
"We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families, the government, and the people of Botswana," Minister Chikunga stated, emphasizing South Africa's commitment to assisting in repatriating the victims for dignified burials.
The vehicle was registered in Botswana. Authorities are currently working to confirm the citizenship of the victims.
Our thoughts go out to everybody impacted by this tragedy.
