Tragedy struck in Cape Town on Monday morning when a Golden Arrow bus, braving the treacherous conditions caused by heavy rains, overturned near Athlone.
The accident claimed the lives of three people and left 21 others nursing injuries.
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The Moment The Golden Arrow Bus Overturned
The horrifying incident was captured on a CCTV camera, footage of which has been widely circulated on X, revealing the harrowing moments leading up to the catastrophe. The video paints a grim picture of the events that unfolded as the bus battled the unforgiving weather. Rain poured relentlessly from an overcast sky, and fierce winds shook the vehicle.
As the bus navigated the rain-slicked road, disaster struck. The driver struggled to control the speeding bus on the wet surface. The bus skidded perilously, rotated, and ejected one unfortunate passenger through the window before flipping onto its side. The vehicle slid along the road, spinning wildly until it collided with an obstacle, coming to a devastating halt.
The thrown passenger staggered to his feet and limped toward the bus, now lying on its side.
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Ruthless Floods In The Western Cape
The tragedy unfolded against the backdrop of an ongoing weather crisis in the Western Cape. Charlotte Powell, the spokesperson for the city’s disaster risk management, issued a warning earlier that fateful Monday, urging Cape Town residents to exercise extreme caution while driving. The region had been grappling with relentless heavy rains and winds since the previous night.
Notably, Western Cape provincial traffic authorities informed the media that a section of the N2 highway in Botriver, situated in the Overberg region, had been completely washed away. The catastrophe directly resulted from the river overflowing its banks earlier that day, leading to rapidly rising water levels that inundated the roadway.
The officials revealed to Sunday World:
“Several roads are closed due to heavy rainfall and excessive flooding across large parts of the Western Cape. The province is experiencing an intense cold front, bringing gale force winds.”