Three die in train derailment in DR Congo

Three people died when a passenger train derailed in the centre of the Democratic Republic of Congo, local officials said.

The accident occurred early yesterday in the Kasai Central province, about 70 kilometres from the city of Kananga.

"The train derailed around 3 am. Two women and a child who tried to jump were unfortunately crushed," said Joachim Likaka, administrator of the territory of Demba.

Rail accidents are frequent in DR Congo because of the poor state of the railways, which are old and badly maintained.

In November, 35 people died when a freight train derailed and then caught fire in Lualaba Province.