At Least 24 Killed In South Africa Bus Accident

<p> At least 24 killed in South Africa bus accident </p>< br />

<p>2013-03-16 11:47:24 GMT+7 (ICT) </p><br /> <p>CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA (BNO NEWS) -- At least 24 people have been confirmed dead after a passenger bus accident in South Africa, local authorities said Friday.<br /></p><br /><p>A double-decker bus was reportedly carrying over 60 people, including several members of a local church, when it lost control near a curve. The bus was traveling from Johannesburg to Cape Town, when it overturned on the Hex River Pass.<br /></p><br /><p>Western Cape Traffic chief Kenny Africa told News 24 that mechanical failure in the bus' breaks caused the accident, as reports indicate the bus crashed into a rock face of a cliff in a curve between two cliffs.<br /></p><br /><p>According to police, most of the passengers were members of a church who were returning from a women's day meeting in the northern province of Mpumalanga. Among the 24 killed were two children, while most of the fatal victims were women.<br /></p><br /><p>Emergency teams had to cut through the bus to free the trapped passengers, while helicopters from the Air Force and Skymed were also deployed to the accident site to assist.<br /></p> <p>

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