DOULA – At least 55 commuters died and nearly 600 were left injured after a packed passenger train derailed and overturned in Cameroon here on Friday.
The harrowing crash took place as a jam-packed train was heading to Doula from Yarounde.
Preliminary investigations disclosed that the train was designed for at most 600 passengers but as many as 1300 were stuffed inside it.
Rescue workers rushed to the site and pulled the bodies and injured from the debris of the train. Most of the injured were shifted to a local hospital while some others were transported to Douala.
Many of the injured are said to be in extremely critical condition and casualty toll is likely to mount further.
Cameron’s President Paul Biya has expressed grief over the incident and extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.
