14 killed in Ethiopian train accident
At least 14 people were killed and nearly 30 others injured after a passenger train derailed in eastern Ethiopia, local media reported Tuesday.
The accident occurred around 2:00 a.m. local time, as the train travelled from Dewele, a border town near Djibouti, to the city of Dire Dawa.
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According to Dire TV, the train derailed in the town of Shinile before colliding with a stationary train, leaving several carriages overturned and mangled along the historic railway line.
Local officials confirmed that 14 passengers died in the crash, while 27 to 29 others sustained serious or minor injuries.
Images shared on social media showed twisted train carriages scattered along the Dire Dawa-Dewele route.
District Commissioner Jibril Omar told BBC Somali that the train, which carried both passengers and cargo, including rice, pasta, and cooking oil, was old and in poor condition. He said overloading likely contributed to the derailment.
“Most of the passengers were young people, many of whom survived by jumping from the train,” Omar added.
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Mohammed Adem, a spokesman for the Somali regional government, said all the deceased and injured had been recovered from the crash site. Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the collision.
Train accidents are rare in Ethiopia, Africa’s second-most populous country. The Somali region, where the crash occurred, is one of the largest in the country and predominantly inhabited by ethnic Somalis.
The derailment comes as Ethiopia continues to rely on its historic railway lines, which have struggled to cope with heavy passenger and cargo loads.
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Officials have warned that ageing trains and infrastructure pose safety risks, particularly in remote regions.
As families mourn their loved ones, local authorities are working to provide medical care for the injured and assess the full impact of the disaster. The tragic incident highlights ongoing challenges in Ethiopia’s transport sector and the urgent need for upgrades to its rail network.
