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| South Africa commuter trains collide near Pretoria | South Africa commuter trains collide near Pretoria |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| At least 300 people, including many schoolchildren, have been injured when two passenger trains collided near the South African capital, Pretoria, officials say. | |
| Medical workers say 28 people were seriously hurt. | Medical workers say 28 people were seriously hurt. |
| The theft of cables used for signalling, compounded by human error, caused the crash, said the head of South Africa's rail authority. | The theft of cables used for signalling, compounded by human error, caused the crash, said the head of South Africa's rail authority. |
| South Africa is in the process of overhauling of its ageing rail network. | South Africa is in the process of overhauling of its ageing rail network. |
| The early morning accident happened when a train crashed into a stationary train near Attridgeville, a township west of Pretoria. | The early morning accident happened when a train crashed into a stationary train near Attridgeville, a township west of Pretoria. |
| "Both of the trains were full of commuters and between them were lots of schoolchildren on the way to school," a spokesman for the regional emergency services told the AFP news agency. | "Both of the trains were full of commuters and between them were lots of schoolchildren on the way to school," a spokesman for the regional emergency services told the AFP news agency. |
| A helicopter has airlifted one of the train drivers to a nearby hospital after he was trapped in the wreckage for two hours. | A helicopter has airlifted one of the train drivers to a nearby hospital after he was trapped in the wreckage for two hours. |
| A spokesman for the local emergency services told the BBC it had transported more than 200 people, three of whom were critical, while 19 had serious injuries. | A spokesman for the local emergency services told the BBC it had transported more than 200 people, three of whom were critical, while 19 had serious injuries. |
| The private Netcare 911 service said it had assisted 100 people, with three critical and three more seriously injured. | The private Netcare 911 service said it had assisted 100 people, with three critical and three more seriously injured. |
| The injured have all been taken to hospitals in Pretoria and Johannesburg. | The injured have all been taken to hospitals in Pretoria and Johannesburg. |
| "When cables are stolen it affects our signalling system," said rail authority head Mosenngwa Mofi. | "When cables are stolen it affects our signalling system," said rail authority head Mosenngwa Mofi. |
| "We then move to what we call manual operations." | "We then move to what we call manual operations." |
| In 2011, at least 800 people were injured when a speeding train hit a stationary one near the township of Soweto. | In 2011, at least 800 people were injured when a speeding train hit a stationary one near the township of Soweto. |