Deadly bus crash near Johannesburg leaves 12 dead, dozens injured

A tragic bus accident in South Africa claimed the lives of at least 12 people and left 45 others injured on March 11 when the vehicle overturned on a highway near Johannesburg, throwing passengers onto the road.

Emergency responders arrived at the devastating scene near O.R. Tambo International Airport, where bodies lay covered with silver blankets and personal belongings — handbags, a lunch box, and a water bottle — were scattered across the highway, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

"On arrival, we found patients lying across the road," said William Nthladi, spokesperson for the Ekurhuleni Emergency Management Services. Emergency teams were still working to lift the bus back onto its wheels to check if more victims were trapped underneath.

Among the 12 deceased, two bodies remained trapped in the wreckage. The bus had been transporting passengers from the township of Katlehong, east of Johannesburg, before it lost control and crashed.

Local city councillor Andile Mngwevu, who arrived at the scene, expressed deep sorrow over the scale of the tragedy. "We are lost for words. This is a disaster," he said. "To see so many bodies lying around is quite saddening, and the city really feels for the families who would have expected to see their loved ones return home later today. Our hearts are extremely heavy right now."

Emergency services deployed ambulances, fire trucks, and pathology vans as paramedics treated the injured on-site before transporting them to hospitals. The bus driver was among those hospitalized.

The exact cause of the crash remains unknown, but no other vehicle was involved. The police have launched an investigation, treating the accident as a crime scene due to the number of fatalities.

Authorities have yet to determine what led to the bus overturning, and officials are examining all possible causes. Nthladi stated that injuries range from serious to critical and that forensic experts are assisting in the response.

By Tamilla Hasanova