Published 19:29 IST, September 12th 2019
Congo: Minister reports 50 killed after train derails in Mayibaridi
Minister Steve Mbiyaki has offerered condolences confirming at least 50 have died and several injured after a train derailed in the southeast part of DR Congo
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At least 50 people have lost their lives and several wounded after a train derailed in the Tanganyika province in the southeast part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). According to Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Steve Mbikayi, this disaster occurred in the country's Mayibaridi district at 3 am on Thursday. Steve Mbikayi offered condolences to the families who have suffered. He also informed through a post on Twitter that meetings and arrangements are in progress in order to handle the accident. However, the cause of the incident is still unknown.
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Humanitarian Intervention
People of the DRC also believe that there is an “urgent” need for humanitarian intervention. While some of them also questioned Mbiyaki if he has offered condolences on behalf of the Government or in the name of humanitarian affairs. One of them stressed on the fact that provisions shall be made to prevent such incidents in the future. While offering compassion to the families who lost their loved ones, one native said that this is just a way to divert money. Someone else also said that there should be money in order to provide funds. There were many people who wanted to remind Mbiyaki of the various crisis going on in DRC and the requirement for better provisions.
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Repeated train derailments in DRC
The central part of the country is reported with regular records of rail accidents due to the deterioration of the tracks and the usage of aging locomotives. Allegedly, some of the locomotives date back to the 1960's. Earlier this year, at least 30 people were killed and several others were injured due to derailment of the train in Kasai province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Reportedly, most of the passengers who were killed during the accident were stowaways who carried goods. The lives lost in another train accident in the same region were 32 and the victim count went up to 70. The wagons had fell into the river and the rescue operations were then carried out. In the eastern part of Congo, 18 people were killed when a train derailed in Kasonngo on its way to the city of Kindu.
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17:37 IST, September 12th 2019