Bus crash claims at least 21 lives in S. Africa

At least 21 people were killed when a bus overturned in Eastern Cape Province on Monday morning, authorities said.

The bus was travelling from Chebe to Butterworth when it went down the gravel road to a ravine, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) said.

The driver reportedly lost control of the bus in the bushes down a steep area, RTMC spokesperson Simon Zwane said.

The exact cause of the crash was still under investigation, said Zwane.

Rescuers were retrieving bodies from the scene where at least 10 bodies were scatterd, appearing to have been thrown from the bus when it rolled.

As the rescue operation was still going on, the death toll was expected to rise, rescuers said.

The accident was believed to be the worst in South Africa in years.

Road accidents are common in South Africa which has the poor road safety records.