At least 24 people mostly children have been killed after a train in the Democratic Republic of Congo derailed.
Local media reports that over 30 people have also sustained injuries in the crash which occurred in the Kasai province.
The derailment on Sunday happened in Bena Leka settlement, 140km north of Kananga, according to police officials.
The train that was involved in the crash was reportedly carrying stowaways with some falling into a river.
Search for bodies believed to have fallen into the river is taking place with fears the death toll could rise.
A railway police official in Bena Leka was quoted by AFP news agency as saying “We have retrieved 24 bodies, mostly children. It is a provisional toll because the wagons are still overturned.
Most of the passengers are stowaways because it is a freight train. We have suspended the search because night has just fallen in the area.
Several wagons have fallen into the water at the bridge over the Luembe River and five more wagons are still overturned.”
This is the third rail accident in a month in central DRC. Most of the trains in DR Congo are in bad shape with many not getting maintained or replaced since the 1960s.
Source: Africafeeds.com
