UPDATE: Death toll in the Willowvale bus accident has risen to 35

The number of people who died in the Willowvale bus accident has risen to 35. Six of them were children.

The bus was travelling downhill on  a  gravel road when it veered off the road and flew about 50m into a river, according to health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo.

The confirmed number of dead people is 35, a number which includes six young children. Three of the children are aged one and two.

The driver is among the 35 dead people. He was trapped under the bus  engine and his body was only retrieved after a breakdown was called to try and lift the bus.

So far 27 of the dead bodies have been identified by their familieswhile social workers are still  busy talking to families and calming them down.

Two helicopters were also sent to the scene and helped airlift some of those injured to Frere Hospital in East London.

Hospital CEO Dr Rolene Wagner said the two patients that were admitted at the hospital have not been identified yet.

She appealed to the relatives of those who were in the bus to come forward.

"It is two males who are their 20's and they are in a critical condition," she said.

Kupelo added that some of those killed had suffered serious head injuries while some even had limbs severed off from their bodies.

Transport MEC Weziwe Tikana has expressed condolences to the families of the victims on behalf of the government and the Eastern Cape transport department. However, she couldn't comment on whether government would assist the families of the victims saying she had informed the Premier about the incident and was still awaiting response from him on the government's way forward.

Meanwhile, Mbashe Municipality mayor Nonceba Mfecane - who was whisked from a funeral straight to the scene - said the municipality was under a dark cloud while described the horrific scene as a tragedy.

"I have never seen more than 30 dead people lying next to each other,"she said, adding that the municipality with other stakeholders had decided to host a prayer meeting for the families in a nearby venue tomorrow.

Visiswa Somdaka, 70, whose sister Siziwe Somdaka,55, was among those who died, said her family was saddened by her passing.

She had last spoken to her last week."She was travelling from Ngwane village to Willowvale to attend a church retreat.

We feel pain at losing her but the fact that she was going to serve God, at least helps to soften the pain a little bit,"she added.Siziwe was a teacher by profession.