A military bus crashed in central South Africa on Friday, killing 10 soldiers on board and injuring 40 others, authorities said.

The accident took place near Golden Gate in Free State Province, the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) said.

The driver lost control of the military bus which was carrying employees of the South African National Defence Force on the way to an event at the Basotho cultural village, the RTMC said.

Accident reconstruction experts have been dispatched to the scene which was described by witnesses as "horrific".

The RTMC said the bus rolled down an embankment and overturned, ejecting several people from the vehicle.

RTMC spokesperson Simon Zwane said the exact cause had not yet been established.

Source : XINHUA