Authorities probing to see if additional wagons led to derailment of passenger train in Cameroon

ESEKA, Cameroon - With over 55 people dead and about 575 others injured, authorities continued to probe the derailment of a passenger train in Cameroon, that occurred on Friday. 

According to the state broadcaster CRTV, the packed passenger train had derailed en route between Cameroon's capital and the economic hub - the two largest cities - leaving wreckage and a string of disaster. 

The accident is said to have taken place at about 11 am local time near the town of Eseka when the Camrail inter-city train was travelling from the capital city Yaounde to the port city of Douala. 

Social media and local media channels were flooded with images and videos of the devastating accident site. Several wagons were seen to be overturned, limbs of passengers were lying around and below the wagons and rescuers seen scurrying around to help those injured.  

According to Transport Minister Edgar Alain Mebe Ngoo, the 20-wagon train was carrying more passengers than usual when it derailed near the central town of Eseka, which is 120 kms west of the capital city.

Railway authorities said that the train had 1,300 passengers as opposed to the usual number of 600 and later confirmed that before leaving the capital, the train was attached with additional wagons. 

The increase in passenger numbers was also reportedly due to the collapse of a bridge near the main highway. Both the factors are being examined by authorities to determine if they played a role in the derailment.

President Paul Biya offered condolences to the families of those affected and the President’s office said in a statement on Facebook that “An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the derailment”

The operator, Bollore that experienced another major incident in September is said to have merely confirmed the accident but the spokesperson did not offer any further details. In September, part of a bridge along one line in Ivory Coast that the operator controls collapsed under the weight of a freight train. 

The rail company, Camrail, on the other hand expressed its condolences to victims and their families on Facebook and said, “Intervention and security teams have been mobilised,” adding that the injured were being transported to a local hospital and others driven to Douala.

With trains to Chad and the Central African Republic also using the axis, the route is said to be one of the busiest in the country even though it has a very poor safety record and a reputation for poor maintenance and disrespect of safety norms.