Urgent blood donations are needed after 62 people were injured when a bus overturned outside Durban on Monday morning, Durban metro police said.
The bus was travelling along the N2 south-bound carriageway near the M19 and Clare Road branch-off when its front right-hand tyre blew out, causing it to overturn, Inspector Rajen Chinaboo said.
Four people were hospitalised in critical condition and two of them lost their limbs on the scene. Fifty-eight were in a serious condition.
The driver of the bus suffered facial bruises after he rammed into a gantry after losing control of the vehicle. The M19 was closed to allow emergency services helicopters to land.
The South African National Blood Service has made a plea to Durban residents to donate blood. ”The accident was horrific. So many people are in need of blood,” spokesperson Ianthe Exall said.
”We have a three-day supply left, which is pushing it a bit because patients bleeding internally or those suffering with serious injuries all means that they have lost blood.”
Blood-donation stations around the province will be open for donations six days a week.
Exall says that should anyone want to donate, blood banks can be found at shopping malls in Chatsworth, Phoenix, Musgrave, Pinetown and other areas surrounding Durban.
The main blood types wanted at this stage are O-positive, O-negative and B-positive.
”We would like to appeal to the community to take just 40 minutes out of their day to help us refill our stocks.” — Sapa
For information on the nearest blood banks call Tel: (031) 719 6500