Benaleka train accident
| Benaleka train accident | |
|---|---|
| Details | |
| Date | August 1, 2007 |
| Time | 23:00 |
| Location | Benaleka |
| Country | Democratic Republic of Congo |
| Rail line | Ilebo to Kananga |
| Operator | Congo Railroad Company |
| Type of incident | Runaway derailment |
| Cause | Brake failure |
| Statistics | |
| Trains | 1 |
| Deaths | 100 |
| Injuries | 128 |
The Benaleka train accident occurred on August 1, 2007 near Benaleka in the Democratic Republic of Congo, killing at least 100 people and seriously injuring 128 more[1][2]
The accident happened in a remote location 105 miles west of Kananga in West Kasai province at 23:00[3] and involved the derailment of a goods train travelling between Ilebo and Kananga on which hundreds of people were travelling illegally, a common practice in Congo,[4] The crash was caused by the failure of the train's brakes,[5] seven of the train's ten wagons (which people were riding on top of[6]) overturned, trapping many people underneath.[7] The driver was able to detach the locomotive and go for help.[8] Many of the injured were carried by bicycle or on people's back to the nearest hospital, six miles away according to Radio Okapi.[9]
References
- ↑ http://www.mail-archive.com/ugandanet@kym.net/msg24642.html [Ugnet] DRC A TRAIN CRASH KILLS AT LEAST 100
- ↑ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6928227.stm
- ↑ http://www.mg.co.za/article/2007-08-02-dozens-killed-in-drc-train-crash Dozens killed in DRC train crash
- ↑ http://www.safetynews.co.uk/August%202007.htm Hundreds of illegal passengers killed in goods train crash
- ↑ http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0934966.html
- ↑ http://www.rssb.co.uk/pdf/reports/ASPR%202007.pdf
- ↑ http://www.graphicnews.org/history/history.php?day=01&month=08&find_history_page=5&find_history_sort=DATE_YEAR.ascending
- ↑ http://www.friendsoftherail.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=479&start=0
- ↑ http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?6,1461823 Congo Train Derailment Kills 100
External links
- DR Congo crash toll 'passes 100' news from the BBC
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Coordinates: 5°07′41″S 22°10′18″E / 5.12806°S 22.17167°E