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| At least 63 killed in train derailment in Cameroon | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| At least 63 people have been killed and more than 500 injured after a packed Cameroon passenger train derailed, leaving debris strewn across nearby tracks as carriages swung off the rails. | |
| The train, travelling from the capital Yaoundé to the economic hub Douala on Friday, was crammed with people due to road traffic disruption between the two cities and came off the tracks just before reaching the central city of Eséka. | The train, travelling from the capital Yaoundé to the economic hub Douala on Friday, was crammed with people due to road traffic disruption between the two cities and came off the tracks just before reaching the central city of Eséka. |
| The death toll had stood at 55, but the communications minister, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, said: “Since the last figures were given, other bodies have been found. As of right now, we are at 63 dead and at least 500 wounded. The work to clear the wreckage is continuing.” | The death toll had stood at 55, but the communications minister, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, said: “Since the last figures were given, other bodies have been found. As of right now, we are at 63 dead and at least 500 wounded. The work to clear the wreckage is continuing.” |
| Many of the injured were in a very serious condition. The cause of the accident remained unclear. | Many of the injured were in a very serious condition. The cause of the accident remained unclear. |
| “Intervention and security teams have been mobilised,” said the rail company Camrail, a subsidiary of the French company Bollore. | “Intervention and security teams have been mobilised,” said the rail company Camrail, a subsidiary of the French company Bollore. |
| Work began during the night to remove the derailed wagons from the line – one of the main routes for goods and passengers between the coast and interior. | Work began during the night to remove the derailed wagons from the line – one of the main routes for goods and passengers between the coast and interior. |
| Emergency services had been sent from the economic capital to reinforce teams closer to the scene of the accident, while firefighters were coming from Eséka, said the Doula regional governor, Dieudonné Ivaha Diboua. | Emergency services had been sent from the economic capital to reinforce teams closer to the scene of the accident, while firefighters were coming from Eséka, said the Doula regional governor, Dieudonné Ivaha Diboua. |
| Transport ministry officials have also gone to the accident site. | Transport ministry officials have also gone to the accident site. |
| The train left Yaoundé at about 11am (1000 GMT) and derailed about an hour later some 200km from the capital, the transport minister said. | The train left Yaoundé at about 11am (1000 GMT) and derailed about an hour later some 200km from the capital, the transport minister said. |
| The train route was particularly busy after a bridge on the road linking Yaoundé and Douala collapsed in heavy rain on Thursday, paralysing traffic and sending extra waves of travellers on to trains. The effects of the rain also impeded the arrival of emergency aid. | The train route was particularly busy after a bridge on the road linking Yaoundé and Douala collapsed in heavy rain on Thursday, paralysing traffic and sending extra waves of travellers on to trains. The effects of the rain also impeded the arrival of emergency aid. |
| The road is one of the busiest in the country and one of the main commercial routes in central Africa, carrying trade towards landlocked Chad and the Central African Republic. | The road is one of the busiest in the country and one of the main commercial routes in central Africa, carrying trade towards landlocked Chad and the Central African Republic. |
| Many travellers were still blocked on either side of the collapsed bridge late on Friday, said Martial Missimikim of the road safety NGO Securoute. | Many travellers were still blocked on either side of the collapsed bridge late on Friday, said Martial Missimikim of the road safety NGO Securoute. |