Devastating Train Collision Claims Lives of Six Children in South Africa
In a heartbreaking incident, a train collision with a school bus in South Africa has claimed the lives of six children, with 19 others injured, the government announced on Thursday. The tragic accident occurred on Wednesday afternoon in the village of Mafube, close to the city of Middelburg, around 180 kilometers northeast of Johannesburg.
Initially, the death toll was reported to be five, but it was later revised to six, with the sixth victim succumbing to injuries while receiving treatment at the nearby hospital, according to the provincial transport department. The crash happened when the school bus, carrying approximately 30 students, crossed a railway line as the train was approaching, the department said.
The government expressed condolences and condemned the reckless driving that led to the accident, calling for accountability for the negligence. "We cannot lose such young and innocent lives due to recklessness," the government said. The bus driver and train driver are also recovering in hospital.
This tragic incident highlights the ongoing challenges with road safety in South Africa, which has one of the most developed road networks on the continent but also one of the worst road safety records. Reckless driving and vehicles not roadworthy are among the contributing factors. For many working-class South Africans, privately owned minibus taxis are the main mode of transport, and parents often rely on these minivans to take their children to school.
As the country mourns the loss of these young lives, authorities and officials are working to prevent such tragic accidents from happening in the future.
