Five children die, 20 injured in bus crash in South Africa – Ministry

MOSCOW, August 1 (Sputnik) – At least five children have died and 20 others have been injured in a collision between a school bus and a train in South Africa, the South African Department of Transport said.

“This follows a tragic accident at a level crossing, involving a bus and a train, which resulted in the deaths of five children and injuries to 20 others,” the ministry said on X on Wednesday.

The ministry added that the bus driver fled the scene after the accident. The train driver and crew were not injured, and the causes of the accident are being investigated, the statement read.

This is the second-largest accident involving a school vehicle this month. Earlier, South African media reported that 12 children and a school bus driver died in an accident in the South African province of Gauteng.