At least 16 people were killed and 20 others injured when a bus carrying 78 passengers overturned in South Africa's Western Cape province early Thursday. The bus was traveling from Cape Town to Idutywa in the Eastern Cape.
Authorities stated that the driver allegedly swerved to avoid colliding with a delivery vehicle, leading to a loss of control and the subsequent rollover. Initial reports indicated nine fatalities, but further examination at the scene confirmed 16 deaths.
The injured were transported to a hospital in Worcester, approximately 120 kilometers (75 miles) from Cape Town. Some 43 passengers declined medical treatment.
The Road Traffic Management Corporation and the South African Police Services are investigating the cause of the crash. Authorities have also issued a warning to motorists regarding the dangers of driving during the winter, citing poor visibility due to fog, smoke, and black ice.
This incident marks the second fatal bus crash in South Africa this week. A bus driver died on Wednesday when a bus en route to the Beitbridge border in Limpopo overturned.