UPDATE: Commuters still trapped after Mountain View train collision
“We are doing everything in our power to rescue all the people who are still trapped.”
An undisclosed number of commuters were still trapped under a train coach following a head-on collision between two trains in Pretoria.
The collision which occurred at the Mountain View train station, west of Pretoria, left more than 300 people injured and three confirmed fatalities. The trains had about 1 000 passengers.
Emergency services personnel have been scrambling to rescue and treat commuters since the collision around 9:00 on Tuesday morning.
ALSO READ: BREAKING NEWS: Three dead, several injured as trains collide in Mountain View
Metrorail spokesperson Lillian Mofokeng said the entire line has been closed to allow paramedics to rescue, treat and transport the injured patients to hospitals and the police to investigate.
She said the cause of the collision was still unknown and the priority was to rescue all the people who were still trapped.
“These trains were both travelling on the same line towards Pretoria direction from Mabopane. A board of enquiry will be instituted to determine the root cause of the accident.”
Mofokeng said with schools opening and other commuters travelling to work, Metrorail would announce how the people who purchased tickets would travel since the line was closed for now.
“At the moment, trains running between Pretoria-Mabopane-Dewildt are temporarily suspended until further notice. Metrorail will set up a walk-in Center for commuters who were involved in the accident for assistance.”
Transnet employee Thokozani Mdledle who was on his way to work said he was a standing passenger in the train at the time of the collision as it was full.
“It was a big bang and I just saw everyone screaming and crying. It was bad. I injured my arm but a lot of people were not in a good condition.”
He said as commuters started getting off the train, some were bleeding while others could not move.
Mapule Monareng who was on the train with her son said the experience was terrifying and all she could think of was whether her 13-year-old son was safe.
“He got hurt on his ribs, but I thank God he is alive and has been transported to hospital,” she said.
Tshwane mayor Solly Msimanga also arrived at the scene of the crash and expressed concern at the state of safety of trains.
https://twitter.com/SollyMsimanga/status/1082572453522608128
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