The accident, which occurred in the municipality of Kwanza, Camacupa, Bié province, involved two trains, one for transport of goods from CFB and another for maintenance, from the Chinese contractor CR20, leaving five crew members injured, the railway company said in a statement.
The administrator of Camacupa municipality, José Lopinho, pointed out a communication failure as the cause of the accident to Angolan public radio, pointing out that the injured are receiving treatment in the communal health center of Kwanza.
One of the trains was carrying 19 cisterns of fuel and various goods in the Cuito/Luena section, while the other technical locomotive came from Luena and was heading to the city of Cuito, capital of Bié.
In statements to public radio, one of the injured, Davoca Sapalo, told that they left Cuito station and when they reached Cuanza station, after about 10 kilometers they sighted the Chinese train in the same direction.
Due to this accident, the train on the Luena/Huambo route, which connects the provinces of Moxico and Huambo, is prevented from circulating, awaiting guidelines for passenger transshipment.
The Benguela railway has a length of 1344 kilometers and connects the provinces of Benguela, Huambo, Bié and Moxico, having a total of 67 stations, including apeadeiros built from Lobito (Benguela).
The CFB indicated that a commission of inquiry was created to investigate the causes of the accident.
