LUSAKA, Dec 28 (NNN-ZANIS) – A train, carrying 24 wagons of coal, derailed in southern Zambia’s Mazabuka town, due to a blocked drainage, the state-run railway firm said yesterday.
Zambia Railways Limited acting spokesperson, Sombe Ng’onga, said, the incident happened in the early hours of yesterday morning.
She said, preliminary investigations revealed that, the derailment was caused by a blocked drainage, due to heavy rains, that buried the rail line.
“It must be noted that it is just the locomotive (head of the train) that derailed, the 24 wagons carrying coal are intact,” she said, in a release.
There were no fatalities or damage to the goods, she added.
A recovery team has since been dispatched to the scene with the immediate priority of ensuring that the capsized locomotive was re-railed. The process of opening the line will then follow and was expected to be completed within 24 hours.
