Officials in South Africa’s Free State have confirmed the death of at least 14 people following a passenger train crash on Thursday.
The train crashed into a truck and a vehicle near Kroonstad, according to paramedics.
An emergency official Tebogo Magoro had earlier said that “Forty passengers are reported to be injured with four fatalities confirmed at this stage.”
Shosholoza train derailed outside Kroonstad.@maroelamedia @afriforum @IanCameron23 @HantiO @crimeairnetwork pic.twitter.com/hsq4uuQuWC
— Marius Müller (@Marius4060) January 4, 2018
News24 quoted Free State health spokesperson Mondli Mvambi saying that “So far we have 12 [deaths] confirmed,” but latest reports by SABC also showed that the death toll has now reached at least 14.
He said rescuers were still searching three burnt-out carriages for more bodies.
There have also been reports of at least 100 people sustaining injuries with some receiving medical treatment on scene and being transported to nearby hospitals for urgent treatment.
Local media reported that the train was travelling from Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg.
Another video of the train that caught fire after colliding with a truck between Hennenman and Kroonstad in the Free State. Emergency services say between 100 and 200 people have sustained injuries. Authorities have not confirmed any fatalities. Vid: Supplied #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/Y0Wz6mQI4b
— Jamaine Krige (@jour_maine) January 4, 2018
Free State – #TrainCrash #Shosholoza latest pics from the scene outside Kroonstad @SiphoTowa pic.twitter.com/a6QUWDkQcI
— Rob Beezy (@TrafficSA) January 4, 2018
Source: Africafeeds.com
