20 school children and a driver burnt to death in minibus crash in South Africa

At least 20 pupils have died in after a minibus they were travelling in crashed into a lorry outside Bronkhortspruit in Gauteng, South Africa on Friday afternoon. The taxi burst into flames, and most of the children were trapped inside.

ER24 spokesperson Russel Meiring said fire services had managed to extinguish the burning vehicle, which was found lying on its side.

Russel Meiring, ER24 spokesman said. 

“It is confirmed 20 children have been killed,” Russel Meiring said. "Paramedics arrived on the scene to find the fire services already in attendance. The fire services had already extinguished the burning vehicle, which was found lying on its side." 

"Unfortunately, nothing could be done for the children and they were declared dead on the scene," Meiring said.

The truck driver survived, so did several other children who sustained injuries and had to be dragged from the wreckage by people at the scene. The dead children and the dead minibus driver lay trapped inside the bus that stood on its side. Some of the bodies of the children were charred beyond recognition.

Meiring said several other children were found at the scene. It's believed these children had been pulled out of the taxi by members of the community.

"The (minibus) was transporting learners from school and it collided with the truck and caught fire," Mpumalanga police spokesman Gerald Sedibe said.