Train crash in S. Africa sends 150 to hospital
Source: AFP |
February 1, 2013, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
TWO passenger trains packed with school children and rush-hour commuters collided near the South African capital Pretoria yesterday, leaving 150 people in hospital.
The authorities suspected the crash was caused by the theft of cables used for signalling, either by people cashing in on the copper or by striking workers sabotaging the track.
The crash took place at around 7:10am when a commuter train heading from the suburbs to the capital ploughed into a stationary train on the same track. Medical workers said up to 350 people were treated by medics and around 150 were taken to hospitals.
"Two are critically injured, one driver and one passenger" and there are 19 seriously injured, said Mosenngwa Mofi, chief executive officer of railway operator PRASA.
It was not immediately known how many children were injured.
"Both of the trains were full of commuters and between them were lots of school children on the way to school," said Johan Pieterse of Tshwane Emergency Services. "We counted about 50-plus children."
Every day around 20,000 people use the blue line between the residential suburb of Kalafong and Pretoria, the country's administrative capital.
Rescue workers initially struggled to cut away the tangled wreckage of the trains to free the passengers.
One of the train drivers was freed from the carriage where he was trapped for two hours.
"He's critical at this stage," said Pieterse.
Police and railway investigators looking into the cause of the crash zeroed in on the theft of 25 meters of copper cable linked to the signalling system.
"What could have led directly to the accident is still subject to investigation," said Mofi. "Cable theft is the root cause of the accident."
Transport Minister Ben Martins did not rule out sabotage, but said the police and justice department are investigating.
The authorities suspected the crash was caused by the theft of cables used for signalling, either by people cashing in on the copper or by striking workers sabotaging the track.
The crash took place at around 7:10am when a commuter train heading from the suburbs to the capital ploughed into a stationary train on the same track. Medical workers said up to 350 people were treated by medics and around 150 were taken to hospitals.
"Two are critically injured, one driver and one passenger" and there are 19 seriously injured, said Mosenngwa Mofi, chief executive officer of railway operator PRASA.
It was not immediately known how many children were injured.
"Both of the trains were full of commuters and between them were lots of school children on the way to school," said Johan Pieterse of Tshwane Emergency Services. "We counted about 50-plus children."
Every day around 20,000 people use the blue line between the residential suburb of Kalafong and Pretoria, the country's administrative capital.
Rescue workers initially struggled to cut away the tangled wreckage of the trains to free the passengers.
One of the train drivers was freed from the carriage where he was trapped for two hours.
"He's critical at this stage," said Pieterse.
Police and railway investigators looking into the cause of the crash zeroed in on the theft of 25 meters of copper cable linked to the signalling system.
"What could have led directly to the accident is still subject to investigation," said Mofi. "Cable theft is the root cause of the accident."
Transport Minister Ben Martins did not rule out sabotage, but said the police and justice department are investigating.
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