The bodies of five learners from Morelig Combined School in the Wonderfontein area have been transported to the Middelburg Pathology Department following a horrific accident involving their school bus and a train.
The collision occurred earlier today, near Mafube Village on the R104 road, where the learners lived.
The crash was posted in the Middelburg Traffic Alert WhatsApp group, which helped dispatch emergency services to the scene and keep officers updated.
The police are still investigating the cause of the crash.
Also read: Update: Fatal collision between train and school bus
@middelburgobserver Five children dead and over 20 injured in horrific R104 train and school bus catastrophe. Accident took just after 16:00, near Mafube Village, between Wonderfontein and Arnot. #middelburgobserver
Distressed family members could be seen carrying buckets filled with soil to cover blood stains.
Some members of the community were gathered at the scene to assist in identifying the bodies before they were transported to the state mortuary.
One learner’s body was trapped in the bus, one was under the train, and two others were found nearby the accident scene.
Shoes, bags and various other items were seen scattered around the accident scene.
According to a press statement issued by the Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security, and Liaison, five children died on impact while 20 were seriously injured.
@middelburgobserver Town rocked by death of five learners in Mafube Village outside Middelburg. Their school bus collided with a train.#middelburgobserver
The school bus was carrying 30 learners.
The bus driver was nearly attacked at the scene by angry residents. However, the driver was eventually transported to the hospital for medical treatment.
@middelburgobserver A paramedic had to intervene to control the crowd. Five children dead and over 20 injured in horrific R104 train and school bus catastrophe. Read more on the Middelburg Observer website.
Speaking to the media on the scene, the spokesperson of the Mpumalanga Department of Education, Jasper Zwane, said his department was devastated by the incident and pledged support to the families during this traumatic time.
He added that the MEC of Education, Landulile Catherine Dlamini, will be in Middelburg tomorrow (Thursday).
@middelburgobserver The spokesperson of the Mpumalanga Department of Education, Jasper Zwane, addressing the media where five learners lost their lives in Mafube Village outside Middelburg. #middelburgobserver
