80 feared dead after bus plunges into dam

Up to 80 people were feared dead in South Africa today after a bus carrying members of the country’s biggest trade union plunged into a dam.

Police said the union members were on their way to May Day celebrations in the town of Qwa Qwa in Free State province.

The bus driver apparently lost his way and ended up driving down a gravel path that led to the dam.

The bus was underwater and rescue operations were underway, police said.

Five bodies had been retrieved and ten people were taken to hospital, said Sam Sesing, a police superintendent.

Ninety people were travelling on the bus.