More than a dozen people were killed and hundreds were feared injured after a train struck a lorry, derailed and burst into flames in South Africa on Thursday. Transport Minister Joe Maswanganyi said the train, which was carrying 700 passengers, jumped the tracks after hitting the truck, which was attempting to negotiate a level crossing. He said preliminary investigations suggested 12 people had died in the crash and 268 were injured, including four critically. Emergency services and rail officials were not immediately able to confirm the circumstances of the crash. South Africa has the continent’s largest railway network, but it has been plagued by mismanagement and under-investment that has seen train use dwindle despite it being the cheapest form of public transportation.

Source: Nigerian Tribune January 04, 2018 15:00 UTC