Magude train disaster
| Magude train disaster | |
|---|---|
| Details | |
| Date | 27 March 1974 |
| Location | Magude |
| Coordinates | 25°01′23″S 32°38′53″E / 25.02306°S 32.64806°E |
| Country | Portuguese Mozambique |
| Line | Lourenço Marques-Salisbury |
| Operator | Mozambique Railways |
| Incident type | Head-on collision, explosion |
| Cause | Excessive speed |
| Statistics | |
| Trains | 2 |
| Deaths | 70 |
| Injured | 200 |
The Magude train disaster occurred on 27 March 1974 in Magude, Portuguese Mozambique, when a train carrying passengers from Rhodesia collided head-on with a Mozambican freight train, causing an explosion that killed 70 people and injured 200. At the time, it was the worst rail disaster in Mozambique's history.
Overview
[edit]In the early morning[1] or evening[2] of 27 March 1974, a southbound train carrying passengers from Rhodesia crashed head-on with a stationary northbound Mozambican freight train that was holding, among other things, petroleum products.[1][2][3] The crash occurred in Magude, Portuguese Mozambique, some miles north of the capital, Lourenço Marques (now Maputo).[1][2][3] The collision caused the petroleum products aboard the freight train to explode and shower burning oil over several coaches of the passenger train.[1] The extreme heat caused the affected cars to melt, killing the passengers inside.[1] Several passengers from the coaches that were not burning attempted to save some of the victims, but were forced to turn back due to the flames.[1]
On the day of the collision, it was reported that 60 passengers were killed.[1][3] Several days later, police reported 70 deaths and around 200 injuries.[2] The event was believed to be the worst rail disaster in Mozambique's history,[2] later surpassed by the Tenga rail disaster with 192 deaths. President William Tolbert of Liberia sent his condolences to Mozambican Prime Minister Joaquim Chissano.[4]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g "Mozambique Crash Reported To Kill Sixty" (PDF). The New York Times. 1974-03-28. Retrieved 2017-12-24.
- ^ a b c d e "70 Killed In Train Crash". Oxnard Press Courier. 1975-03-30. Retrieved 2017-12-24.
- ^ a b c Year Book Covering the Year ... Crowell-Collier Educational Corporation. 1975. p. 225.
- ^ Tolbert, William R. (1972). Presidential Papers: Concluding period of the First Administration of President William R. Tolbert, Jr., August 1, 1974-December 31, 1975. Republic of Liberia, Executive Mansion. p. 91.