A bus carrying British tourists crashed on a notorious mountain road in northeast South Africa on Thursday, killing two 19-year-old women and injuring 21 on the eve of the continent's first World Cup.
The tourists did not appear to be in South Africa for the soccer tournament since they had tickets to leave by air tomorrow, provincial police spokesman Leonard Shlati said.
"The bus overturned on a windy road at a bend," he told Reuters. "There's one critical in hospital. The rest should be OK."
One critically injured passenger was rushed by ambulance to hospital in Nelspruit, a World Cup host city 400km east of Johannesburg.
The accident occurred this morning near the town of Barberton.
Nicola Brewer, the British High Commissioner to South Africa, said: "It is with great sadness that I can confirm that two British nationals have been killed today in a coach crash in Barberton, near Nelspruit.
"They were part of a group of 18 students and two of their lecturers on a field trip.
"The latest information I have is that a small number have been injured. They are being treated in the Nelspruit area.
"Our thoughts and sympathies are with the families and loved ones of those involved." In a statement released shortly before 4pm UK time, she added: "I am leading a crisis team that is now on its way to Nelspruit. Our first priority is to visit the injured in hospital and get in touch with their families back home. We expect to arrive within the next two hours."
South Africa's roads, especially in the mountainous areas along its northeastern borders with Mozambique and Swaziland, are notorious for accidents.
World Cup organisers identified transport as one of the tournament's major challenges.
Agencies