Dozen Injured in Train Collision: A luxurious Rovos Rail passenger train en route from Pretoria, South Africa, to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, collided with a freight train managed by Beitbridge Bulawayo Railway (BBR) near Gwanda early Friday morning, causing injuries to more than a dozen people and several carriages to derail.
The incident occurred around 6:15 AM, roughly 8 kilometers from Gwanda, along the Bulawayo-Beitbridge railway line at the 132-kilometer point.
At the time of the accident, the Rovos Rail train was carrying 47 international tourists.
There are differing reports regarding the total number of injuries.
Rovos Rail spokesperson Liezl Maclean mentioned that four crew members were hurt and confirmed that no passengers sustained injuries, though some were placed under medical observation.
In contrast, an unnamed local railway worker claimed that 18 people were injured, with 14 being treated at Gwanda Provincial Hospital and four transferred to Mater Dei Hospital in Bulawayo.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police reported 13 injuries but did not clarify whether these involved passengers, crew members of the train, or employees from the freight train.
Officials confirmed that none of the injuries were life-threatening.
The collision resulted in significant damage, derailing several carriages and leading to major disruptions in travel schedules.
Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the accident.
