Tragic train accident, at least 50 people died
At least 50 people died in a train derailment in Mayibaridi district of Tanganyiki province in southeastern Congo on September 12.
Aljazeera quoted Congolese Humanitarian Affairs Minister Steve Mbikayi as saying that the accident happened at 3:00 a.m. (local time) while the train was moving in Mayibaridi.
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| Congo's railway system has many potential safety risks. Illustrative photo AFP |
According to Mr. Mbikayi, the death toll is only provisional because 23 others were also injured in the incident.
Mr. Mayibaridi also said that rescue workers have been dispatched to the scene. The cause of the incident is being investigated and clarified.
The railway system in Congo is considered unsafe due to its old tracks and locomotives, many of which date back to the 1960s.
Previously, in March, at least 24 people were killed and 31 injured when a cargo train illegally carrying passengers crashed in the central area of Kasai province.
Earlier, in November 2018, 10 people were killed and 24 injured when a freight train failed to brake while operating near the eastern town of Samba.
In 2017, 35 people died when a freight train plunged into a ravine in southern Lualaba province./.
