This archive report was first published on 12 September 2019.
Train derailments in the Democratic Republic of Congo have a long history of tragic consequences, and the latest incident is no exception.
On Thursday, a train derailed in southeastern DR Congo, killing 50 people and injuring several others, according to a tweet from the minister for humanitarian action, Steve Mbikayi.
"Another disaster! Derailing at 3am local in Tanganyika (province) near Mayibaridi. Provisional toll: 50 dead and several injured," Mbikayi wrote.
The incident is a stark reminder of the poor safety record of railways in the DRC, which is hampered by poor tracks and decrepit locomotives, many of which date back to the 1960s.
Just last year, a freight train carrying stowaways crashed in the eastern town of Samba, killing 10 people and injuring 24. In 2017, a freight train carrying oil tankers plunged into a ravine in southern Lualaba province, killing 35 people.
These incidents highlight the need for urgent action to improve the safety of railways in the DRC.
